Mega Edition: Leon Black Gets Bounced From MoMa For His Epstein Ties (5/3/26)

About this episode

The episode discusses Leon Black's resignation from MoMA amid public backlash over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

Leon Black’s fall from grace at the Museum of Modern Art came in early 2021, after intense public backlash over his deep financial relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Reports revealed that Black had paid Epstein approximately $158 million for tax and estate advisory services, long after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting sex from a minor. The revelations sparked outrage across New York’s art world, with artists, staff, and activists demanding his removal from MoMA’s board. Protesters accused the museum of moral hypocrisy for maintaining ties with a man linked to Epstein’s network, arguing that his presence tainted the institution’s credibility and mission. As pressure mounted from both within and outside MoMA, calls for his resignation grew louder, and donors began quietly voicing discomfort about his continued leadership. In March 2021, facing unrelenting scrutiny, Black announced that he would step down as chairman of MoMA’s board and not seek re-election when his term ended. While he technically remained on the board as a trustee, his exit from the chairmanship was viewed as a forced retreat under immense public pressure. His resignation from the top spot came shortly…

People in this episode

Host: Bobby Capucci

Topics covered

• Leon Black
• MoMA
• Epstein scandal
• art world backlash
• resignation
• public pressure

Keywords

• Leon Black
• MoMA
• Jeffrey Epstein
• resignation
• art world
• public backlash
• Apollo Global Management

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Museum of Modern Art, Apollo Global Management

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