An Argentine TV host has reportedly stepped down after falsely announcing on air that Lionel Messi’s father had died, a claim that later turned out to be completely untrue.
The incident occurred during a live broadcast of Luzu TV’s “El Show del Verano,” where host Florencia Peña mistakenly told viewers that Jorge Messi had passed away, sparking widespread confusion and concern at a sensitive time during the World Cup.
“I don’t want to break bad news, but Messi’s father just died,” she said during the programme, also wrongly suggesting that the Argentina captain would have to leave the tournament.
However, the Messi family quickly moved to clarify the situation, confirming that Jorge Messi was alive but had been dealing with a health issue and was currently under medical supervision. They also expressed anger over the spread of unverified and sensitive information.
In a statement, the family said Jorge Messi was “recovering and progressing favourably,” while criticising the lack of respect and accuracy in how the matter was reported.
Following the backlash, Peña issued a public apology, expressing deep regret over the mistake and apologising directly to the Messi family. She also announced her decision to leave the programme, taking responsibility for the error.
“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,” she said.
Luzu TV also addressed the incident, saying it strongly condemned the broadcast of unverified sensitive information and confirmed disciplinary action had been taken against those involved.
