Can’t believe that I’m being blackmailed - Johannesburg

I was financially supporting someone I met on Ads Africa , but they escalated demands and resorted to blackmail, threatening to expose our interactions after secretly recording our conversations and Taking pictures of me without my consent. I know the law and that I can sue him but This could still ruin my reputation.Guys please be careful these young guys can’t be trusted. I’m usually to tell a scam from far away but this person is playing a long game and pretended that he cared