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 after he also resigned as CEO of Apollo Global Management amid the same Epstein scandal. MoMA attempted to minimize the fallout by framing his departure as voluntary, but the timing — coming amid protests and reputational damage — made clear that Black’s position had become untenable. His exit marked one of the most high-profile instances of cultural institutions severing ties with financiers connected to Epstein.


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