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An Open Letter To All My Fans - Finally I am Standing up for Myself
Blog | July 14, 2013
I didn’t think that I would have to deal with this, but it came to the point when I just have to stand up for myself. It came to my attention that my soon to be ex-husband wrote a post about our marriage in which he pictured me as an abusive monster that used him to get to Los Angeles only to dump him, dump BodyRock.Tv that we’ve build together and become a star. My stomach literally turned upside down when I read all of those horrible things he wrote about me that are absolutely not true. I keep being bullied by this man who took literally everything from me.
Here is my side of the story. Freddy and I have build BodyRock.Tv a fitness/personal blog that became very successful. We traveled, had fun, shot hundreds of workout videos that went viral on youtube. BodyRock.Tv was a very successful business that was making us a lot of money. It was insane. We had everything but home. I did not want to live in Canada and my husband did not want to live in Prague. We tried a little country in Mediterranean – Malta, but it still didn’t feel like home to either of us. In 2011 we were contacted by a large talent agency and production company from Los Angeles to discuss a possible business opportunity. It sounded great and we were both excited to move to L..A.
We moved to Los Angeles in May 2011 and rented an expensive house in West Hollywood for the entire year. While we did not close a deal with the production company and did not get representation from the talent agency, we both felt strong about BodyRock.Tv and wanted to keep growing. Our relationship on the other hand was not at all in good shape. It was not because I was a monster wife that would physically and emotionally abuse my husband. We had serious issues that caused disconnection on my part. I was not happy about the creative direction of our videos and the way I was being portrait and perceived. While I was happy about the numbers on youtube and growing business I was feeling more and more embarrassed about my sexualized image. Don’t get me wrong, I like sexy, and confident, but I don’t enjoy having camera close up my cleavage and elsewhere. That was also a reason why we did not get any sponsorships or representation by any large talent agency despite of the popularity online. I felt like our goals were different. I wanted a clean family friendly blog that people wouldn’t be embarrassed to share with their friends, and Freddy wanted to see bigger numbers. I felt like I was being controlled in every aspect of my life. I didn’t even have my own cellphone for the first few months in Los Angeles. Apparently it wasn’t needed. If anyone wanted to talk to me, they can call my husbands cell phone.
Another issue in our relationship was our intimacy. I was not as physical with my husband as he wanted me to be which led to frustrations on his part and disappointment and disconnection on mine. I couldn’t get a hug from him to be comforted, without him being sexual with me. I could no longer imagine to have family with this man. I knew that I would not be able to look into my children’s eyes and tell them that their dad is the love of my life.
I decided that the best thing for both of us would be to separate as a couple and remain best friends and business partners. While I can’t deny that Freddy was devastated by my decision, it was not true that he had to leave to his home town in Canada. I told him that our house was big enough for both of us. We had two separate bedrooms. I offered him that I would help him to get through the changes and that I would not be the first one to date other people if he decides to stay. I wanted him to be happy and I wanted us to keep growing BodyRock.Tv.
He decided to leave me in Los Angeles and went back to his home town in Canada with his family. I was fine with that and I have to say that I felt relieved and was excited for the new beginnings. Freddy and I were in touch every day and talked about BodyRock.Tv and how we are going to continue as business partners. We agreed on bringing in other girls as hosts of the workout videos. However my idea of hiring a camera guy to shoot my workout videos was denied by my husband. No one was allowed to shoot videos of me. That’s why you could see me doing only short intros to the workouts having my camera on tripod. I was also doing some nutrition and diet posts, but I felt very limited by not having anyone to help me. We were both feeling overwhelmed by the change, because we were used to working together and we were very good at working together.
Things got very tough when his new girlfriend Lisa Marie came to the picture. While I thought that him having a new girlfriend, a person that will be there for him, will make things a lot easier, I was wrong. Up until then, we were friends, partners and we were getting along. If you were following BodyRock.Tv back then you must have noticed that I have basically vanished right after her very first post. In December 2011, Freddy’s attitude towards me changed completely. He became incredibly mean, he denied me an access to BodyRock.Tv and all the social media we’ve build together. Since I had no access to our Canadian business account, and owned only 49% of the company, I was relying on him to pay me monthly dividends. My future was completely in his hands. When I asked for my dividends he told me to first sign a non-compete agreement. What that means is that I wouldn’t be allowed to ever have my own fitness blog or to ever do a workout video online. I felt like I was being controlled again and threatened on top of that. It was never my intension to leave BodyRock.Tv. I was forced to leave to keep my independence and dignity. He told me to lawyer up and the last email I got from him stated exactly this: “I want you to sell the company car that your mom is using. Aww, isn’t it horrible that your mom that has nothing won’t even have the car?” That my friends right there was the end of our friendship. I couldn’t believe it. Of course I did not sell the car and my mom still has it.
What happened next is that he wrote a post on BodyRock.Tv that would portray me as a bad person that betrayed him in every possible way. He wrote that he was being forced and manipulated to write the post about us breaking up. That was the post with the picture of us sitting on the front step of the house in West Hollywood. Just to let you know, nobody was forcing him to write what he did. While I was pushing for him to post the truth about us not being a couple, he wanted to write it in his own words and told me not to let anyone know that I left him. I was fine with that.
At that time, I decided that I will not give up and that I will continue doing what I love and he or nobody else will ever stop me. I contacted Darren from Watch it now entertainment, explained him the entire situation and asked him if he wants to be my partner. We clicked as friends immediately and we were on the same page when it comes to fitness, blogging and my image as a trainer. I got hired by his company and got my work visa instantly. After that, you know the story. We started shooting ZWOWs and I tried to get back on my feet. I can never thank Darren and his team at Watch It Now Entertainment enough, who all helped me when I had absolutely nothing. I am also forever thankful to my boyfriend who stood by me the entire time and gave me the kind of love and home that I have always dreamed off.
I filed for divorce in January 2012, however I am still waiting for the divorce to happen, because my husband is way too power hungry and wants my 49% of BodyRock.Tv which he thinks is worth his signature on our divorce papers and nothing more. I was also threatened by a letter from his lawyer that I might be deported back to Czech Republic if I won’t stop doing ZWOWS and sign the non-compete agreement with BodyRock.Tv. I guess he assumed that I didn’t get my visa.
I have received way more abuse from him in the form of online bullying. He said so many bad things about me on his Facebook and other social media and I have never stood up for myself. For some weird reason I thought that he is really not that kind of person and that maybe he’s just very hurt that I left him. I thought that he is being like that because he’s probably suffering. Now it got to the point that I am hundred percent certain that all that crap he writes about me is his cover up to justify the fact that he took everything from me and have been actively trying to destroy my career and my online presence. Here he is again with another post trying to hurt me. He didn’t take the most important part of me though–my faith, love, and will power.
Private Member |
100% on your side Zuzka!! Love what you’ve done with this site. Your new video’s and now the ZGYM. I haven’t joined just yet (waiting for 8/01/2013) but I will for sure! Zuzka, you didn’t even have to explain. It’s visible even without you explaining. The fact that you have paid memberships now only make sense. We all have jobs. Yours is this site. I don’t see you as all for profit. You are passionate about fitness and nutrition. It’s not just a job. It’s your life. The reason I workout now and eat healthy as a lifestyle is because of you. YOU. Not bodyrock.tv. I’m so glad that you started this site and I have my personal trainer back 🙂 So THANK YOU for sticking up for yourself. Proud of you. Proud of what you have done for yourself. Just don’t stop what your doing……all this for someone I never even met. 😀 Yup. Your that awesome.
Private Member |
Im sorry to read that you are having a bad time, hope you the best in your future projects, and if you want a men that respect you and worship you… Since several years ago, here i am 😉 you are the best in the fitness industry, you can beat this problems any time
Private Member |
Hey Zuzka,
You go girl. Stand up for yourself. No man should ever have to treat you like that. It sounds like selfishness in his part or he is being manipulated (people putting things in his head). I am so sorry that you are going through this hell. I pray that everything go positive for you and he leaves you alone. You have a great fan base with ZuzkaLight. Keep it up girl. I am a hugggggg fan right here.
Mickey
Private Member |
I am so sorry to hear about what has been going on. I have been following your workouts for years, and was wondering what had happened between the two of you. I am glad you made the decision that you did though and made the realization before you actually had a family together- “not the love of my life”. I hope that you will find happiness, you are a strong and wonderfully sweet person, and you have a lot of support behind you! Good luck with all your future endeavours!
Private Member |
We love you, would never have believed a bad word about you. Thank you for all that you do!
Private Member |
Dear Zuzka,
Please stay strong and don’t let anyone hurt you. We love you!!
Private Member |
Hey Zuzanna!Thank God you have decided to finish this toxic relationship with Freddy. You do not need all that sexual context to be amazing or to have lots of fans. People love you because of your kind and honest personality and even if you were the ugliest person in the world people would still love you for WHO YOU ARE!!! The real beauty of you is what you have inside and being beautiful inside makes you being beautiful outside! Take care dear and do not let anyone to control you anymore. I’m really sorry for all this crap that happened to you but no matter what happens remember there are thousands of people who support you and We really appreciate you being so honest with us!
Stay Strong & Beautiful Inside,
Private Member |
Dear Zuzka,
No one can take anything that is yours away from you.
I am sorry you felt hurt by what your ex-husband said and did. You soooooo needn’t trouble your heart with him anymore.
There are many attractive people doing workout videos online. I never connected with anyone the way I connected with you. I started doing your workouts in 2009. After you left BodyRock I tried to keep up with the workouts but just couldn’t.
Your workouts have helped me through some very stressful times in my life. I’m glad you’re back – and BETTER!
I hope you will never again let someone else have that kind of power over you, no matter how nice they treat you. Love them from your place of power.
Big hug!
Private Member |
I’ve only just read this, after I just saw an old picture of the pair of you. I think anybody who has followed you knows something funny was gong on, the minute you popped up with a ZWOW your face along the side of the bodyrock.tv site were taken down and left blank.
Sod him, your doing well for yourself now, and it seems you have a great team to help you, if you want someone extra pick me pick me! 🙂
Don’t dissapear again Zuzka, if you do come here because I’ve got a large warehouse that’s goof for you to make your workout videos but it’s not as hot as the USA here in England. :
Private Member |
Zuzka, im so glad you are doing your own thing. Ive discovered body rock.tv before but couldnt also handle the “sexy” shots and found it very humiliating, especially since my husband and I always do the same things together. We loved you though, we couldn’t connect your kindness and wholesomeness as you talked and the cinematography of the videos. It was just too disconnected.
Now, youre on your own, it is WAAAAAAY better and we can finally focus on getting better on our health.
We support you all the way, which is why I’ve subscribed to ZGym. when I get better after doing your beginner series (just gave birth), I will also purchase your DVDs from Amazon.
We are so happy for you. even your phon pics of yourself look better than the pictures he took from you before.
God bless you always.