Argentine TV presenter Florencia Peña has resigned after mistakenly announcing the death of Jorge Messi, father of football star Lionel Messi, during a live broadcast.
The incident occurred on Luzu TV’s “El Show del Verano,” where Peña reportedly received the inaccurate information through instructions from the production team via her earpiece.
The report quickly spread across media platforms before members of the Messi family clarified that Jorge Messi was alive. He is said to be recovering from health complications.
In response, the television station condemned the airing of unverified sensitive information, describing the mistake as “inacceptable.” It also announced sanctions against those linked to the error.
While the station moved to dismiss staff responsible for the misinformation, Peña decided to leave her position and later issued a public apology to the Messi family.
She admitted feeling deeply embarrassed by the incident and disclosed that she had personally reached out to Lionel Messi’s mother, Celia Cuccittini, to express her regret.
During an emotional appearance on another television programme, “Sálvese Quien Pueda,” the presenter recounted how the error happened and explained why she felt compelled to resign.
The controversy sparked widespread reactions in Argentina, with President Javier Milei among those who criticised the incident. He described Peña as a “commère mesquine” (petty gossip) and suggested that criticism directed at Messi resonates strongly across the country.
Online, opinions were divided. Some users blamed the production crew for supplying false information, while others argued that journalists should independently verify major reports before broadcasting them.
Although the incident has been described as a serious setback for Peña’s career, some observers have praised her swift apology and efforts to personally address the matter with the Messi family.
