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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 |
Really? Oh my gosh I had no idea (of all this). I read a post (I’m not sure if we’re talking about the same BodyRock post, because I stop following the blog!) a long while ago indeed, of him saying that you left him and therefore left him so heartbroken, and I even give him a little bit of the doubt benefit, that meaning: not against you ever but like you said, relationships are complicated so because he could be so hurt with the end of your relationship (whatever the reason), that would be his side of the story and it is what it is, you know. I got myself thinking: ‘is it possible that Zuz actually ended the relationship because she no longer loves him but totally despised him after that as well, so he got so hurt?’ I didn’t want to believe that you would have done something like that “because you no longer need him now that you’re so popular on your own” (or better said and let’s face it: you were always the star of Bodyrock, not so much for ‘the guy behind the camera’…)… Anyway, I always separated your personal issues from what I loved about you (Zuzana, my coach and motivation), so that never made me stop admiring you, because I have nothing to do with your personal issues, everyone have them and one has the right for privacy… Now in the middle of this all, what doesn’t surprise me is the fact that he used your image in a very sexualized way, because that was very obvious (unfortunately). Now what does surprises me, is all this pettiness of him (towards you), and all for the sake of money (and pride, resentment, fame? …). Unfortunately, money’s always above love and respect, and / or even forgiveness and understanding … How sad and low human nature can be, right … All that being sa(i)d, I’m sorry you still have to go through this, taking in concern all you have been through in your life already in the past … 🙂 xo
Private Member |
Argh! i feel so angry for you!!! that man is horrible. It is freaking scary to see how someone who is so nice to you can suddenly turn into a monster. I AM UNFOLLOWING BODYROCK. Honestly, i never really need them and Zuzka, i didn’t follow your workouts on bodyrocktv at first because they really suck. It is so hard to follow, all i see is ur butt up close. ZWOWS etc are so much better. I was surprised to see that your Zwow IS DIFFERENT FROM bodyrock vids, and from there i started to follow you again. DON’T GIVE UP!
Private Member |
Sooner or later that man will have to pay for the wrong he did to you. I don`t want to be mean, but from the moment I first saw him I did not like the vibe he projected. Now I know why.
You, Zuzi, on the other hand, have always been so positive and loving and sincere and it`s like you radiate a white warm light all around you. It`s you people love, it`s you people follow, without you doing the workouts bodyrock.tv would have never existed if you ask me.
I`m watching you from 2009 and since then I`ve seen you come a long way- you`re always improving, always being positive, never losing focus. Don`t think that all that hard work will go unnoticed. It doesn`t even matter if you believe in God or Buddha or in karma or whatever, there is someone or something up there that will bring you the justice you deserve. I`m sure of that. Just wait and see 🙂
Stay strong, we love you! xxx
Private Member |
This is nice to share this kind of things with us … It make you closer, and it give us lot of confidence into your judgment …
Thank you very much for who you are and what you do 🙂
Seb
Private Member |
I simply want to say I am newbie to blogging and site-building and really enjoyed this web page. Almost certainly I’m want to bookmark your blog post . You definitely have impressive writings. Cheers for sharing your web page.
Private Member |
Hi Zuzka,
You are a strong woman and I wish you the very best with your Zgym and zwows – they are much better than the videos from Bodyrock. I had always had this impression that Freddy was controlling you and that’s very bad for anyone…
I’m happy you’re successful on your own and with your new amazing team! You are a true warrior and my inspiration.
Thank you for helping all of us get in shape.
Stay true to yourself and everything will be alright 🙂 but I’m sure you know that 😉
Love you!!!
Private Member |
Hey Zuzka, since Freddy is so greedy you should hit him where it hurts- sue him for slander! Collect all of his comment and sue him for trying to damage your online presence. Hey, you may not win, but it will cool him off and scare him by showing him that you can cause him a lot of trouble in his life too and that you can also go after him for his money. Two can play that game. I’m sure he’ll quit it after that, because slandering you will become a liability for him. He thinks nothing can hurt him and he’s wrong. Anyhow, Freddy can never take what he didn’t have-your fans, your smarts, your passion for fitness and humanity and your tender and creative spirit. Shine on Zuzka…we all love you!!
Private Member |
Hi Zuzka,
I have just red your post and I believe you. I have been following bodyrock.tv just watching as i never believed i could do your hard core exercises but I am going to start soon after i lose a couple of more excess kilos. What I was going to say is I can’t stop thinking about your post and as I followed bodyrock it does fit with your story you did completely vanished after announcing your brake up a few cooking videos followed and that was it. gone. I missed you a didn’t like Lisa Marie nothing wrong with her just she wasn’t as likable as you. And time went on and i wondered what happened to you. and there you were again on youtube I was delighted. I am glad you kept going despite what happened. i am not sure why you owned only 49% when you were married and you were the face of bodyrock but hey you have your reasons maybe he put more money in it but still he can’t deny you your income when you are business partners right. he left you on streets without any income. I think the comment above is right try and sue him. i don’t know if you have the resources but it is worth the shot. you have every right to get what is yours despite owning one less percent. I personally think Freddy is a douche bag and womanizer and I left him a post on bodyrock what i think of him. and I am equally worried for Lisa Marie cuz she will be in the same boat as your were with him. This is another reason for me not to follow bodyrock.tv and he can go and choke on his money, eager b……d. I wish you all the best in life Zuzka and as a fellow country girl all the best in personal and professional life. and please please could you make your DVDs accessible to people from Europe I tried to order but it is impossible and even if i knew somebody in USA it is different zone like every DVD is for different zone…i am sure you know. so please try in future.
ok that is me finished writing.
Mame Te radi Zuzi hodne uspechu do budoucna preje Eva z Brna :)))
Private Member |
Hey Zuska,
I only just found this post as I haven’t visited in a little while (my horse has been keeping me active enough recently haha), this is awful thing to happen to such a lovely person. The whole reason I watched BodyRock.tv was for your encouragement and personality, when I noticed you were no longer in the videos I went looking for you on Facebook etc. and totally abandoned the website. I’m glad you could take back your independence and continue to strive for your dreams, you are so inspiring 🙂
I’m sure you’re aware by now, but you are so loved by so many 🙂
Thank you for staying true to who you are, because you are truly wonderful <3
Private Member |
Omgg zuzka please keep fighting do not give up. I wanna see your ex eat shit. that prick! His YouTube channel is sorry as hell too. You are so real and such a good person and that has gotten you so far! Keep at it