Argentine TV presenter Florencia Peña has resigned after a major live television error in which she incorrectly announced the death of Lionel Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, during a broadcast on Luzu TV.
The incident took place on the programme El Show del Verano, where Peña reportedly received the false information through her earpiece from the production team and relayed it on air without verification.
The claim quickly spread across social media before being officially debunked by members of the Messi family, confirming that Lionel Messi’s father is alive and recovering from health-related issues.
The broadcaster, Luzu TV, later issued a public apology, describing the mistake as a serious breach of journalistic responsibility.
“We regret deeply what happened on air,” the station said, adding that it had moved to dismiss those responsible for supplying the incorrect information. The channel also condemned the airing of sensitive claims without proper confirmation, calling the lapse “inacceptable.”
Following the backlash, Florencia Peña chose to step down from her role. In her apology, she expressed remorse over the incident and acknowledged the emotional impact it had caused.
She said she had personally reached out to Lionel Messi’s mother, Celia Cuccittini, to apologise for the distress caused by the false report about Lionel Messi’s father.
In an emotional appearance on another programme, Sálvese Quien Pueda, the presenter admitted she was devastated by how events unfolded.
According to her, the mistake was the result of misinformation fed to her during the live broadcast, leaving her no time to verify the claim before repeating it on air.
The incident sparked strong reactions in Argentina, including criticism from political figures. President Javier Milei reacted on social media, reportedly calling Peña a “commère mesquine” (petty gossip) and stating that any attack on Lionel Messi’s father or family is deeply offensive to the nation given Messi’s status in Argentina.
Public reaction has also been divided. On social media, many users debated whether the resignation was necessary or whether the production team should bear more responsibility.
One user, #3getKennethed22, wrote: “This is bad communication from the production team and she doesn’t have to resign for it.”
Another commenter, #bodex333, added: “You have to take some minutes to digest info before going on air and announce such info without legit confirmation.”
A third user, #Osinbolu1, noted: “One wrong cue in the earpiece… and a simple mistake becomes global news involving one of the most sensitive names in football.”
The controversy surrounding the false announcement about Lionel Messi’s father has continued to trend online, with many football fans expressing concern over the spread of unverified breaking news in live broadcasting environments.
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While Peña’s resignation brings closure to her immediate role at the station, the incident has also raised wider questions about newsroom verification processes and the pressure of real-time reporting in modern media.
