I've been thinking about that lately. What would someone have done that can be so bad that they are forced to act a fool in front of the world to stop from being exposed.

So they did something really terrible, shameful or downright evil so they go do what they are told. Then I think, but they are just putting off the inevitable right?

Either way they are screwed. The blackmailer of the blackmailee isn't going to say 'ok you are in the clear now'.