Schools Across U.S. Cancel Picture Day Following Concerns Over Lifetouch Owner’s Connection to Epstein Files
A growing number of schools across the United States are reportedly canceling scheduled picture days following a wave of parental concern regarding the ownership of Lifetouch, the nation’s largest school photography company. The backlash stems from the company’s corporate ties to Leon Black, a billionaire financier and co-founder of the private equity firm that owns Lifetouch, whose name appears in the unsealed “Epstein Files.”
Lifetouch, a ubiquitous presence in American education that photographs millions of students annually, is a subsidiary of Shutterfly. Shutterfly was acquired in 2019 by Apollo Global Management, a firm co-founded by Black. While Black resigned as CEO of Apollo in 2021, his historical financial relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has recently come under renewed scrutiny due to the circulation of unsealed court documents.
The controversy intensified this week as reports circulated on social media highlighting the corporate chain of command connecting student data to Black. Documents previously released by the Department of Justice indicate that Black paid Epstein approximately $158 million for tax and estate planning services between 2012 and 2017. Although Black has not been charged with a crime and has denied knowledge of Epstein’s criminal conduct, the association has prompted immediate alarm among parents and privacy advocates.
School districts in several states, including reports from New Jersey, Texas, and Utah, are facing demands to terminate contracts with Lifetouch. Parents have expressed discomfort with a firm linked to the Epstein scandal holding databases of children’s photographs. “The idea that a corporate structure tied to these individuals has access to millions of children’s images is unacceptable to our community,” stated one parent group organizer in an online forum. Consequently, several administrators have opted to suspend photography services pending legal reviews of their vendor agreements.
In response to the growing boycott, Lifetouch issued a statement attempting to distance its operations from the controversy. The company clarified that while Apollo Global Management is an investor, the private equity firm does not have access to student data.
“Lifetouch is not named in the Epstein files,” a company spokesperson said in a media release. “Neither Apollo nor its funds are involved in the day-to-day operations of Lifetouch, and therefore no one employed by Apollo has ever had access to any student images.” The company further emphasized its long-standing partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as evidence of its commitment to child safety.
Despite these assurances, the momentum for cancellations appears to be building, with online petitions urging a nationwide severance of ties until complete divestiture is proven. Administrators are now scrambling to find alternative local photographers to fulfill yearbook requirements while navigating the legal complexities of existing contracts.
* dailydot.com
* reddit.com
* petapixel.com
* expressnews.com
* nationaltoday.com
* digitalcameraworld.com
* timesnownews.com
* moveon.org
