It's interesting to see the contrast, specifically in this field:
"if the payoff was illegal, then that's relevant",
The payoff for what, exactly? A voluntary exchange b/w 2 people, which happens to involve money and privacy?
Why is it illegal for her to make some money for keeping their personal business to themselves?
Why is this an issue to begin with?
A prostitute uses her body to make money, it's illegal.
A porn star uses her body to make money, it's perfectly legal.

The double standards should be addressed in this story more than anything else, for the simple sake of logical reasoning.