US Schools Scrap Class Picture Days Amid Epstein-Linked Social Media Storm
Multiple school districts across the United States have abruptly cancelled planned class photography sessions following a wave of online claims falsely connecting the student photography company Lifetouch to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The disruption, which began in Texas and spread to other states, was triggered by social media posts alleging a link between Lifetouch and billionaire investor Leon Black, who had known Epstein.
False Claims and School District Responses
Lifetouch, which photographs millions of students annually, issued a firm statement on Friday categorically denying the allegations, calling them "completely false." The company emphasised that neither Black nor any directors or investors from Apollo Global Management have ever had access to student images. Apollo, an investment fund manager, acquired Lifetouch's parent company Shutterfly in a $2.7 billion deal in September 2019. This was one month after Epstein died by suicide in jail while awaiting trial on federal charges of sexually abusing and trafficking dozens of girls.
Both Lifetouch and Apollo stressed this timeline in their statements, noting that Apollo has no role in Lifetouch's daily operations. Lifetouch CEO Ken Murphy had previously stated on Instagram that no executives have ever had any relationship or contact with Epstein, and student photos are never shared with third parties.
Parental Concerns and Cancellations
In the small Texas town of Malakoff, the local school district cancelled a student picture day after several parents expressed discomfort with Lifetouch photographing their children. District spokesperson Katherine Smith confirmed the decision in an emailed statement, adding that the district would keep all pictures in-house for the remainder of the academic year and evaluate options for the 2026-2027 school year.
Similar cancellations or changes were reported at several other schools and districts in Texas, as well as a charter school in Arizona, according to Facebook announcements posted by the institutions. Parent MaKallie Gann, whose children attend schools in Howe, Texas, voiced concerns about the amount of personal information Lifetouch collects, including students' names, ages, grades, teachers, and schools.
Epstein Document Release and Broader Context
The cancelled school pictures represent another ripple effect from the release of millions of files from the Epstein investigation. These documents reveal Epstein's extensive contacts with CEOs, journalists, scientists, and prominent politicians long after his 2008 conviction on sex crimes charges. A review of thousands of documents released this month by the U.S. Department of Justice shows no evidence that Epstein or anyone in his orbit ever saw Lifetouch photos, despite there being at least 1.7 million records.
Leon Black's name appears 8,200 times in the documents, though this figure likely includes duplicates. Black stepped down as Apollo's CEO in March 2021, citing a desire to focus on family, health, and other interests. Two months prior, a committee of Apollo's board issued a report concluding that Epstein had advised Black personally on estate planning, tax issues, and charitable giving, but provided no services to Apollo. The report found "no evidence" that Black was involved in Epstein's alleged criminal activities.
The situation underscores how misinformation on social media can swiftly impact school routines and parental trust, leading to significant operational changes based on unsubstantiated claims.
