Exactly.It could have been both financial and veiled threats:
Of course this is all speculation on my part.
- You can have £XXXk if you sign this NDA
- This money is far more than you could ever have hoped to earn in the media, and represents e.g. 20x your current annual salary as a TV runner
- You've ruined your reputation in this business, PS will tell all his extensive contacts you can't be trusted
- No one will want to hire you, your prospects in this already-competitive business are limited
- No crime happened, PS just chatted with you until you turned 16. The age of consent is 16, PS did nothing legally wrong
- PS will vigorously defend his position legally should you attempt to bring a civil action against him, plus you have no grounds on which to do so. Litigation is costly and PS has unlimited access to lawyers
- If you sign this NDA, PS will cover your legal fees. If you bring an action, you may lose and you will have to pay your own legal fees
- No media outlet will interview you about PS, as the agency he belongs to is so powerful
- The best thing you can do would be to take the money and start afresh
If he did sign an NDA I can absolutely see why he did it.
And it's like when you're in a bullying situation, the bully holds the cards, as far as you can see, and you can feel totally friendless and alone. Schofield is the well established one, with the power and the money. MM is so much younger also.
My heart goes out to MM and I hope that he is okay, and has support.