Perhaps, but I think his approach could be improved. Basically, he was feeding a troll and now they're playing the troll's game by using "eyecatching headlines

Perhaps, but I think his approach could be improved. Basically, he was feeding a troll and now they're playing the troll's game by using "eyecatching headlines". (I don't think for a minute they are seriously concerned about blackmail; this was a troll being a troll, not anything serious enough to warrant the name "extortion".) "sorry, I’m afraid we can’t provide free samples" was the right response (although "we do not provide free samples" would have been better as "can't" implies there's a barrier that might be overcome; do not give unreasonable people a reason for a decision because then they have a target). If the troll asks "why", the answer can be "because we do not offer free samples." Repeat meaningless responses until the troll gets bored (or better yet, block and ignore them). As soon as you say the reason is policy, they can try to get you to change or go around the policy. If you provide no reason at all, there is nothing to discuss.