"Zelda Perkins declares victims can no longer be silenced as she exposes Weinstein's NDAs"

Zelda Perkins was 24 when—physically drained, emotionally shattered, and surrounded by lawyers—she finally signed the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that legally barred her from speaking about Harvey Weinstein’s history of sexual misconduct. The oppressive force of that document stayed with her for years, casting a heavy burden over her life and affecting her health.

“Looking back at that moment, I never thought justice could be possible,” she says. Now, eight years after breaking her NDA and becoming an unintended advocate against them, Perkins believes accountability may finally be within reach. On Monday, in a move that surprised even longstanding activists, the UK government introduced extensive reforms to prevent employers from using NDAs to silence victims of abuse.

The next day, Perkins was still processing the news, but her excitement was unmistakable. “This is monumental,” she says. “It means abusers will have to alter their behavior—not out of fear of reprimand, but because they have no choice. There’s no place left for them to evade consequences.”

She acknowledges that the government’s approach has exceeded her hopes. If the measures remain unchanged, they will extend protections to gig-economy workers as well as permanent employees. Requests for NDAs must now come from complainants, not employers, and workers will be guaranteed access to legal counsel. Significantly, so-called “non-disparagement clauses,” often used after non-disclosure agreements became controversial, will not be allowed in abuse cases.

“It’s remarkably bold; if these changes are enacted as promised, they will set a global precedent,” says Perkins, who launched the Can’t Buy My Silence campaign in the UK to challenge abusive NDAs in 2021. The initiative asserts that while NDAs may be warranted for safeguarding intellectual property or commercial data, they have frequently been misused to suppress victims of harassment, particularly in industries like retail and hospitality where workers are more vulnerable.

“For the first time, I feel a real sense of hope—as though freedom is within reach,” she says. “But the legislative process is long. The work isn’t over yet, and we have to keep pushing forward.”

Perkins also highlights the broader significance of these changes, particularly against a backdrop where inclusion and diversity efforts face resistance in some countries. Over 27 U.S. states, a Canadian province, and Ireland have introduced similar reforms—yet businesses remain hesitant.

Recently, two multinational firms that pledged not to use NDAs in abuse cases declined to announce their commitment, fearing possible backlash. “With progress elsewhere being rolled back, Britain taking the lead here is incredibly important,” she says.