Argentine television host resigns after reporting false news regarding Lionel Messi’s father
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Argentine presenter Florencia Peña resigned from her role at Luzu TV following a report that footballer Lionel Messi's father had died during a live broadcast. The error was attributed to unverified information provided to the host via an earpiece during the World Cup tournament.
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Argentine television host Florencia Peña has resigned from her position at Luzu TV following a false report that Lionel Messi’s father, Jorge, had died during a live broadcast. The incident occurred on the program El Show del Verano while the footballer was competing in the World Cup tournament. According to reports from The Mirror and NBC News, the error took place shortly after Messi scored a hat-trick in his country's opening match.
Peña, who is 51 years old, stated that she believed the information had been verified by her production team before it was transmitted to her through an earpiece. The Times of India reports that she told viewers during the broadcast that the news had been confirmed by staff members. Following the report, a statement from the family of Lionel Messi clarified that Jorge is currently recovering from an undisclosed medical condition.
Luzu TV has responded to the reporting error by terminating several staff members involved in the production of the segment. The network issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to responsible journalism and professional standards following the broadcast. The Sun reports that Peña issued a public apology for the statement she made on air shortly after it was shared.
The discrepancy between the report and the actual status of Jorge’s health led to immediate corrections from both the broadcaster and the athlete’s family. While Peña stated she relied on information provided by her production team, the network has taken internal action to address the failure in reporting protocols.