US School Districts Cancel Class Photos Amid Viral Rumors Linking Photography Company to Epstein

Several school districts across the United States have abruptly cancelled or modified their traditional class picture days following a wave of social media claims connecting school photography giant Lifetouch to Jeffrey Epstein through a complex web of business relationships.

The disruption began when viral posts alleged links between Lifetouch and Apollo Global Management, a private equity firm whose former CEO Leon Black had acknowledged professional ties to Epstein. The claims have spread rapidly across parent networks, despite Lifetouch’s insistence that the allegations are “completely false.”

In Malakoff, Texas, school officials cancelled scheduled student picture days after parents voiced concerns about the company. District spokesperson Katherine Smith said administrators determined students and families “would be best served by keeping all of our pictures in-house for the rest of this year.” The district is now evaluating alternative photography options for the coming academic year.

Similar cancellations have occurred at several other Texas school districts and at least one charter school in Arizona, according to social media announcements reviewed by the Associated Press.

The controversy stems from Apollo Global Management’s 2019 acquisition of Shutterfly, Lifetouch’s parent company, in a $2.7 billion deal that closed just one month after Epstein died by suicide in jail while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Leon Black, who led Apollo at the time of the acquisition, stepped down from his position in March 2021, stating he wanted to focus on family, health and personal interests.

Lifetouch, which photographs millions of American schoolchildren annually, has mounted a vigorous defense against the allegations. CEO Ken Murphy addressed the situation directly in an Instagram post, emphasizing that neither Black nor any Apollo directors or investors had access to student photographs. The company later issued a more comprehensive statement: “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 further clarified that while Apollo’s funds own Shutterfly, the investment firm has no involvement in day-to-day operations and no access to the vast repository of student images Lifetouch maintains.

Apollo has also responded to the controversy, noting that while Epstein did provide personal financial advice to Black on matters such as estate planning, tax strategies, and charitable giving, the disgraced financier never provided services to Apollo or invested in the firm’s funds. An independent board committee review requested by Black found “no evidence” connecting him to Epstein’s alleged criminal activities.

Despite these assurances, the episode has intensified ongoing parental concerns about student data privacy in an increasingly digital educational landscape. Parents like MaKallie Gann, whose children attend schools in Howe, Texas, point out that school picture orders typically contain sensitive information including a child’s name, age, grade, teacher, and school.

The controversy highlights the growing intersection of social media misinformation and legitimate concerns about student privacy. While investigations by news organizations reviewing approximately 1.7 million documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice found no evidence that Epstein or his associates ever accessed Lifetouch images, the incident demonstrates how rapidly unverified claims can impact school operations across multiple states.

School photography, once a straightforward annual tradition, has become increasingly complicated as districts navigate both parental concerns and the complex corporate ownership structures behind companies serving America’s classrooms.