Several U.S. school districts, particularly in Texas and Arizona, have cancelled or suspended plans for student picture days with Lifetouch Photography following viral social media posts linking the company to Leon Black, a billionaire with documented ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The concerns stem from a "six degrees of separation" connection, where Lifetouch is owned by Shutterfly, which in turn is owned by private equity firm Apollo Global Management. Leon Black, the former CEO of Apollo, had financial ties to Epstein, though he has not been charged with any wrongdoing.
Key Details of the Situation:
- School Actions: Multiple districts, including Malakoff ISD, Kemp ISD, Athens ISD, Cross Roads ISD, Van ISD, Winnsboro ISD, and Edgewood ISD in Texas, canceled or changed plans for spring pictures. A charter school in Arizona also canceled, citing concerns about student privacy.
- The Connection: Leon Black stepped down as CEO of Apollo in 2021 following reports that he paid Epstein over $158 million for tax and estate planning services, with some meetings occurring after Epstein's 2008 conviction.
- Lifetouch Response: Lifetouch has strongly denied the claims, calling them "unsubstantiated rumors" and "completely false". The company stated that Lifetouch is not named in the Epstein files, Apollo has no role in daily operations, and no investor or employee at Apollo has ever had access to student images.
- Privacy Concerns: Despite the denial, parents and school officials expressed concerns about data security and the amount of information collected (name, grade, teacher).
- Alternative Solutions: Schools that cancelled are moving to in-house, student-led photography for yearbooks to ensure security.
The controversy follows the release of millions of documents related to the Epstein investigation in early 2026.
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