That's one way to put it. Another way to put it is that they bribed the critic with hush money. Unless his employment is not tied to an NDA (highly improbable

That's one way to put it. Another way to put it is that they bribed the critic with hush money. Unless his employment is not tied to an NDA (highly improbable), even if Nate thinks they are acting genuine, this could just be a move from the top to shut him up.