THE NDA: Silence as a tool to continue abuse

How do survivors receive justice? What happens when survivors are influenced to sign an NDA? Today, we’re going to dive deep into the world of NDAs and how NDAs are another form of abuse. Lisa welcomes Zelda Perkins, Co-Founder of the Can’t Buy My Silence campaign. Zelda shares her experience of signing an NDA and breaking the NDA. She educates on how NDAs are predatory and abusive to survivors, why they are so prevalent in SA cases, and how they are ultimately not legally enforceable.  This episode is all about how your voice, your survivor story is more powerful and important than any lump sum for your silence. We encourage you to educate yourself more about NDAs before you sign them. From now on, always question… don’t be afraid to question. Don’t believe everything a lawyer tells you.  Just a heads up: This episode contains discussions of sexual assault and suicidal ideation. Some may find it upsetting. We encourage you to take care of yourself. Zelda Perkins was the first woman to break an NDA in 2017, signed decades earlier, with Harvey Weinstein. She brought the systematic abuse of NDA’s to the attention of the British Government and international press, giving evidence at two parliamentary inquiries, which uncovered an epidemic of misuse, and pushed the Solicitors Regulatory Authority to take disciplinary action against the lawyer who created the NDA for Weinstein. Her actions have been inspiring others to come forward by her example. She has been campaigning for legislative and regulatory reform in the UK since 2017 and launched the Global campaign Can’t Buy My Silence cantbuymysilence.com with Canadian Co Founder, Professor Julie Macfarlane in September 2021. They are working with Government in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Canada and Australia to change legislation and regulation around the misuse of NDA’s. They have had legislative success in the UK, Ireland and Canada with the first laws of their kind banning NDAs being passed in all three countries, however there is still a long way to go. Zelda was named a Person of the Year by Time magazine in 2018,  by the Guardian in 2020 and in 2023 awarded for her Outstanding Contribution to Gender Equality by UN Women UK. Her character was portrayed by Samantha Morton in the Universal Pictures feature “She Said” documenting her part in the downfall of Weinstein.  You can follow Zelda and Can’t Buy My Silence @cbmsilenceuk on Instagram and @cbmsilence on X. To learn more about the misuse of NDAs go to cantbuymysilence.com. Follow Lisa Phillips @iamlisaphillips on Instagram. From Now On is produced by LA PHILLIPS MEDIA. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Have a story to share with us? Email us at [email protected]. Join our movement and keep up to date on all things From Now On by following us @fromnowonpod on all socials. If today’s conversation resonated with you and you are seeking more support in your own healing journey, here are some resources below: If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, help is available. Call 800.656.HOPE (4673) If you or someone you know is being trafficked, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Text 233733 (befree). PAVE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit creating a world free from sexual violence and building communities to support survivors. Speak Out, Act, Reclaim (SOAR) is dedicated to providing a safe and empowering space for survivors of sex trafficking to reclaim their stories and stand up for themselves and each other.