Billionaire Link to School Photography Giant Causes Disruption
MALAKOFF, Texas (AP) — School districts across the United States have been reconsidering their plans for student pictures amid widespread social media speculation connecting Lifetouch, the school photography company, to billionaire Leon Black, who has associations with the late Jeffrey Epstein. However, Lifetouch has firmly denied these claims, asserting they are “completely false.”
The controversy erupted after posts circulated online suggesting a connection between Lifetouch and Apollo Global Management, an investment firm once led by Black. Apollo acquired Shutterfly, Lifetouch’s parent company, in a $2.7 billion deal completed in September 2019, shortly after Epstein’s death while awaiting trial on charges of sexual abuse and trafficking of minors.
In response to these allegations, Lifetouch and Apollo both released statements clarifying that neither Black nor Apollo’s directors or investors had access to Lifetouch photographs. “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,” the company stated. Furthermore, Apollo has no involvement in Lifetouch’s daily operations or access to student images.
The situation has resulted in some schools, such as those in Malakoff, Texas, canceling their scheduled picture days. School officials, responding to parental concerns, decided to handle student photographs internally for the current year and are evaluating options for the future. Katherine Smith, a spokesperson for Malakoff’s school district, explained, “We decided our students and families would be best served by keeping all of our pictures in-house for the rest of this year.”
Parents like MaKallie Gann from Howe, Texas, voiced concerns about the amount of student information Lifetouch gathers, including personal details like names, ages, grades, and school information. Despite these concerns, there is no evidence from the recent U.S. Department of Justice document releases linking Epstein or his associates to Lifetouch photos.
The extensive review of over 1.7 million records revealed frequent mentions of Black’s name, though these likely include duplicates. Black resigned as Apollo’s CEO in March 2021, stating personal reasons and other interests. A committee report from Apollo’s board emphasized that Epstein had only provided personal advisory services to Black and had no business dealings with Apollo.
The report also confirmed there was “no evidence” implicating Black in any of Epstein’s alleged criminal activities. The effects of this ongoing scrutiny continue to ripple through communities and businesses alike.
Read More Here
