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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 |
Just wanted to say I have followed you for several years and am happy that you continue to produce such great workouts. Sympathy to you for the troubles, and I agree that it was becoming too sexualized. While you are truly a beautiful woman, you have such great intelligence, skill, and exercise knowledge that you do not need to rely on sexuality to inspire followers.
Please be encouraged, keep doing what you are doing, and best wishes to your success!
Private Member |
Sukza, i have to say that i did not like this guy even back when you guys were together. It seemed to me like he was using you and your beauty. What kind of husband shows his wife’s body the way he did? It was degrading, it showed an huge lack of respect for you as his wife and you were right to leave him.
Private Member |
You did the right thing by leaving him – he has no understanding on how to make a video. I wrote many times telling him to put the camera on a tripod. the videos are much better now and I’m happy that you’re better off!!
Private Member |
Goodness of heart, honesty, grace, being prepared to work hard, intelligence, kindness, spirit, authenticity – those are all things I would wish for my daughter (if I had one) and that a person I would admire would have. You are a true role model, a lady with class and who walks with intention – that is why we have all followed you. In the end, you will have a smile on your face and you make other people smile. I’m so glad you decided to stop the lies, I felt quite emotional reading it. Do you know Rudyard Kipling’s poem ‘If’? You are truly the spirit he describes.
Private Member |
Girl!! Been there (not quite as bad) but you are so much better off. I had no clue what happened. I used to watch your videos until the brunette came in the picture. I thought you were pregnant or something. I quit watching because I don’t like her, there’s just something off.. My friend told me my workouts remind her of zuzka’s (I’ve been a trainer for 8 years) and had no clue what she was talking about. I said I used to watch Zuzana on BodyRock.Tv but don’t anymore. Then she explained… That Freddy is a douche. And A-freaking-men. I HATE the crotch shots and boob shots. Ridiculous and unnecessary! I felt like I was watching a fitness soft porn.. Sheesh… You are gorgeous inside and out (I can tell in the eyes)!! Thanks for being an awesome inspiration to so many people and not selling out!!!
Private Member |
I am sooo sorry!!! I love your workouts and you are an amazing person. 🙂 I just wanted to post this link… it might make you feel better… http://ybenner.com/2012/06/11/why-i-stopped-following-bodyrock-tv/
Private Member |
Zuzka,
I am very glad that you wrote this. I always had a weird inclination that you were being portrayed as a sexual figure by your husband and felt very bad that you were going through it. I knew that you were not the person that you were being filmed as and had a idea that it was always your husband. I’ve always liked you and your spirit and I was glad when I saw your new channel. The only reason I watched BodyRock was for you, and when I had seen that you mysteriously left and was replaced by a new girl trying to be you I was puzzled. I went looking for where you had gone and stumbled on your new channel. I noticed that they were not closing up on your body as BodyRock did, which confirmed my suspicions. I also looked back on BodyRock to see what it had become at that point and unsubscribed because it disgusted me and I felt the betrayal of not having you there.
My point is, I knew all along that you were you, and that you were being held back by someone else’s ideas and motives. YOU are the reason why everyone watched BodyRock and YOU deserve to be happy.
MUAHHH xoxoxo
Private Member |
Zuzana,
You’re amazing. I’m sorry you were/are going through this.
*hug*
Sarah
Private Member |
I am afraid this guy always liked you for the wrong reasons, and when you got your life going real well, he wanted to put you back down best he could.
Hope he’ll get his due, and you get your 49% back paid in full, plus outstanding dividend.
BodyRock is just fitness porn (I just checked after a long while), nothing more. Self-degrading for Lisa Marie who sadly seems to feed on this, almost literally.
Private Member |
I am sorry for both of you that you had to go through so much pain. I would say that marriage is an institution created by God. People try to make it work without God. and therefore we see a massive divorce rates. I would say to both of you: build your life upon the solid rock of Jesus Christ and you will have a heavenly marriage. I came to Jesus Christ exactly because all of my (4) relationships failed. Now I am happily married with 2 boys and I can honestly say I have a heavenly marriage!!!Jesus is the only way!Amen and Glory to God!!!