Argentine television host Florencia Peña has quit after she falsely reported that Lionel Messi's father, Jorge Messi had died during a live broadcast tied to Argentina's World Cup campaign. The error came two days after the soccer icon led Argentina to victory in its first World Cup match.
Peña made the claim Thursday during a live stream of Luzu TV's "El Show del Verano." Social posts suggest the segment quickly drew attention online under the hashtag #ElShowDelVerano after hosts reportedly said Jorge Messi had died and later clarified the news was not confirmed.
I don't want to break bad news, but Messi's father just died. Right in the middle of the World Cup, he's going to have to leave.
The Messi family pushed back against the reporting. Jorge Messi, 68 had been dealing with an undisclosed health issue, but he had not died. What illness he is facing has not been made public.
He is currently under medical supervision, recovering, and progressing favorably within his current condition. Given the versions, rumors, and speculation that have circulated in recent hours, the family wishes to express its deep displeasure at the lack of sensitivity, respect, and scruples with which some people have treated a strictly private and family matter.
Peña, 51, said she received the false information live on air as if it had already been checked by the show's production team. She apologized on Instagram and said she was leaving the program Thursday.
I have to clarify that this false information was given to me live on air as if it had been checked the show's production team, and I trusted it. I apologize to the Messi family for the awful moment I imagine they are going through. I am very ashamed to have been the vehicle for this pain. Even so, I take responsibility for being part of the mistake, and that is why I decided to step aside and end my participation in Luzu. I apologize again from the bottom of my heart: I was wrong.
Luzu TV issued a statement saying it deeply regretted what happened on air and found the spread of sensitive information without proper verification unacceptable. The channel said management decided to dismiss all those responsible and that Peña would decide to step down. Conflicting reports have also suggested Peña and production staff involved in the segment were dismissed from the station.
Luzu TV deeply regrets what happened on air during the program. Our channel finds the dissemination of sensitive information without proper prior verification unacceptable. For this reason, Luzu TV management has decided to dismiss all those responsible. Florencia Peña will decide to step down. We reaffirm our commitment to responsible, respectful and rigorous communication.
Peña faced fierce backlash from Messi fans and Argentinians over the error, including a public response from President Javier Milei on X.
TRASH CORP. The aberrant and unscrupulous unchecked statements by Florencia Peña on a streaming channel, which would still be aberrant even if the information had been true, since they trample on a citizen's private life, remind us of the impunity with which some individuals believe they can operate simply by holding a microphone or a pen in hand, as if that fact implied not only that they don't have to verify the information they spread, but also that they need not adhere to the most basic tenets of human decency, morality, or respect for the truth.
