An Argentine television host has resigned after falsely reporting the death of Lionel Messi's father during a live broadcast. Florencia Peña announced on Luzu TV that Jorge Messi had died, suggesting that Lionel Messi would not play further World Cup matches. The Messi family quickly issued a statement confirming that Jorge Messi was hospitalized with an undisclosed medical issue but was "progressing favourably."
Resignation and Apology
Peña resigned from her position and apologized to the Messi family, blaming the production crew for feeding incorrect information through her earpiece during the live broadcast. "I apologise to the Messi family for the awful moment I imagine they are going through," Peña wrote on social media. "I am deeply ashamed to have been the vehicle for this pain. I must clarify that this false information was provided to me during the live broadcast as verified by the production team of the show, and I trusted it." She added, "Even so, I take responsibility for being part of the mistake, and that's why I decided to step aside and end my participation in Luzu."
Luzu TV Statement
Luzu TV, a popular news source in Argentina launched in 2020, also issued an apology and stated that "those responsible" had been relieved of their duties. "We deeply regret the incident that occurred on air during the programme," Luzu said. "For our channel, broadcasting sensitive information without proper prior verification is unacceptable. Consequently, Luzu TV management has decided to part ways with all those responsible, and Florencia Peña has decided to step aside. We reaffirm our commitment to responsible, respectful, and rigorous communication."
Sponsorship Fallout
According to Argentine media reports, up to 10 brands immediately ended their sponsorship of Luzu following the incident.
Messi Family Statement
The Messi family expressed their "profound discomfort at the lack of sensitivity, respect and scruples" shown by some individuals. They emphasized that only close family members have accurate information about Jorge Messi's condition and urged the media to act with "responsibility, prudence and humanity."
World Cup Context
Lionel Messi is participating in his record sixth World Cup. He scored a hat-trick in Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria in Kansas City. Argentina faces Austria next in Arlington, Texas. Algeria has sent a letter to FIFA's refereeing commission about alleged poor officiating during their match, particularly regarding an incident where Messi stood on the calf of Algeria captain Aïssa Mandi without punishment.
