Argentine presenter Florencia Peña resigns after false on-air report about Lionel Messi’s father
Argentine television host and actress Florencia Peña has resigned from digital broadcaster Luzu TV following a live broadcast error in which she falsely announced the death of Jorge Messi, the father of football star Lionel Messi.
The incident occurred during a live stream of El Show del Verano on Thursday and quickly went viral across social media, triggering widespread backlash and an immediate denial from the Messi family.
The controversy unfolded shortly after Argentina’s 3–0 victory over Algeria in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick and was seen emotional on the pitch.
During the broadcast, Peña told viewers: “Listen, 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.”
Moments later, a production staff member intervened to clarify that the claim was unverified and originated from circulating social media rumours.
However, the clip had already begun spreading widely online, drawing criticism over the failure to verify sensitive information before airing it.
In a statement, the Messi family dismissed the report as false, saying Jorge Messi is alive and under medical care for an existing health condition. They added that he is “recovering and progressing well.”
The family condemned the spread of unverified information, warning against media speculation around personal health matters.
Following the backlash, Peña issued a public apology, saying she regretted amplifying inaccurate information provided by her production team.
She wrote: “I apologise to the Messi family for the awful moment I imagine they are going through. I am deeply ashamed to have been the vehicle for this pain… I have decided to step aside and end my participation in Luzu.”
Peña also accepted responsibility for the broadcast despite saying she relied on information passed to her during the live show.
Luzu TV founder Nicolás Occhiato described the incident as “unacceptable,” confirming that the presenter has been removed from the platform and that staff members involved in relaying the unverified report have also been dismissed.
The network said it would review its live editorial procedures to prevent similar lapses.
Media analysts and viewers criticised the incident as a breakdown in basic broadcast verification standards, highlighting the risks of relying on unconfirmed social media rumours during live programming.
The Messi family’s statement stressed the importance of restraint and responsibility, urging media outlets to avoid speculation during sensitive personal situations.
Lionel Messi, currently with the Argentine national team at the World Cup, has not publicly commented on the incident.