TV Presenter Resigns After Wrongly Reporting Messi’s Father’s Death

An Argentine television presenter has stepped down following the erroneous announcement of Lionel Messi’s father’s passing. This incident occurred shortly after Messi guided the Argentina national team to victory in the first match of the World Cup.

Florencia Peña made the unfounded claim regarding Jorge Messi’s health during a livestream of “El Show del Verano” on Luz TV.

“I really hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Messi’s father has died,” Peña reportedly stated.

She seemed to think that he would have to leave in the midst of the World Cup.

Messi’s family clarified that while Jorge Messi was indeed dealing with undisclosed health issues, he was alive and criticized the irresponsible reporting surrounding the story.

“He is currently under medical care, recovering and doing well in his situation,” the family shared in a statement.

They expressed frustration over the speculative nature of recent discussions, stating they were upset about the lack of respect and privacy given to their personal matters.

It remains unclear what specific health issue Jorge Messi was facing or what his current condition entails.

Peña stated that she had received unverified information about Messi’s 68-year-old father and acted on it without proper confirmation.

“I must clarify that the false information was provided to me live, and I trusted it,” Peña explained on her Instagram Story.

Following this incident, Peña apologized for the mistake and announced her departure from the show.

“I truly apologize to Messi’s family for the difficult situation they are enduring. I’m deeply ashamed to have contributed to their pain,” she wrote. “Even so, I take responsibility for my part in this, leading to my decision to resign from Luzu. Once again, I sincerely apologize. I was in the wrong.”

Conflicting accounts suggest that both Peña and the production team involved in the error may have been let go from the station.

“Luzu TV is sincerely regretful about the incident that occurred on-air. The channel finds it unacceptable to spread unverified personal information. Hence, the management has decided to dismiss those responsible. Florencia Peña has chosen to resign,” the channel conveyed in a statement from founder Nico Occhiato. “We reaffirm our commitment to responsible and respectful communication.”

Peña faced significant backlash from Messi’s fans and the general public, including criticism from President Javier Milei.

The president expressed his disapproval on social media, calling Peña’s statements outrageous and highlighting how they disrespected personal lives.

Milei labeled her as a “low-rent gossip monger” and commended Luzu TV for taking steps to address the situation.

On the field, Messi led Argentina to a 3-0 victory against Algeria in their first World Cup match, scoring a hat trick.

After scoring his first goal, the emotional player was seen wiping tears from his eyes using his jersey.

Later, Messi was somewhat cryptic about his emotions, stating, “It wasn’t related to football; those feelings were about something else,” while expressing gratitude to his teammates and coaching staff for their support.