School picture days in several U.S. Districts have been canceled or postponed following social media posts linking photography company Lifetouch to billionaire Leon Black, a former CEO of Apollo Global Management who had ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Lifetouch has called the claims “completely false.”
School Picture Disruptions
The concerns arose after online posts connected Lifetouch – which photographs millions of students annually – to Apollo Global Management. Leon Black, who led Apollo in 2019 when the firm acquired Lifetouch’s parent company, Shutterfly, had a professional relationship with Epstein, receiving advice from him on financial matters.
Both Lifetouch and Apollo emphasized this timeline in statements released Friday. Lifetouch CEO Ken Murphy previously stated in an Instagram post that neither Black nor any Apollo representatives had access to Lifetouch photos.
“No Lifetouch executives have ever had any relationship or contact with Epstein and we have never shared student images with any third party, including Apollo,” Lifetouch stated. Apollo affirmed that its funds have no role in Lifetouch’s operations and no access to student images.
Parental Concerns
The cancellations are a consequence of the release of millions of documents from the Epstein investigation, revealing Epstein’s extensive network. In Malakoff, Texas, the school district canceled picture day after parents expressed discomfort with Lifetouch taking their children’s photos, according to spokesperson Katherine Smith.
Similar decisions were made by other schools in Texas and a charter school in Arizona, as announced on Facebook. MaKallie Gann, a parent in Howe, Texas, voiced concerns about the amount of student information Lifetouch collects, including name, age, grade, teacher, and school.
A review of over 1.7 million documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice has not revealed any evidence of Epstein or his associates accessing Lifetouch photos. The name of Leon Black appeared 8,200 times in the released documents, though some records may be duplicates.
Black stepped down as Apollo’s CEO in March 2021, citing a desire to focus on personal matters. A prior review, commissioned by Black, found that Epstein advised him on personal financial matters but provided no services to Apollo or invested in Apollo funds, and found “no evidence” of Black’s involvement in Epstein’s alleged criminal activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the school districts to cancel picture days?
Widespread social media posts linking Lifetouch to billionaire Leon Black, who had ties to Jeffrey Epstein, prompted the cancellations.
What is Lifetouch’s response to the claims?
Lifetouch has stated that the claims linking it to Epstein are “completely false” and that neither Black nor any Apollo representatives had access to student photos.
Did the Epstein investigation reveal any connection between Epstein and Lifetouch photos?
No, a review of thousands of documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice has not revealed any evidence of Epstein or anyone in his orbit seeing Lifetouch photos.
Given the sensitivity surrounding these claims, will other school districts reconsider their contracts with Lifetouch?
