A television presenter in Argentina has resigned after falsely announcing live on air that Lionel Messi's father had died. Florencia Peña, host of Luzu TV's El Show del Verano, stated on June 18 that Jorge Messi, aged 68, had passed away. She said, "I don't want to break bad news, but Messi's father just died," and suggested the footballer might need to leave the World Cup. She later attempted to backtrack, noting the information was unconfirmed and based on social media rumors.
By then, the false claim had spread online, forcing the Messi family to issue a statement denying Jorge's death and confirming he was recovering in hospital from an unspecified health issue. Peña apologized to the family, taking responsibility for the mistake but explaining the information came from the show's production team. She wrote on social media, "I am deeply ashamed to have been the vehicle for this pain... I decided to step aside and end my participation in Luzu."
Network Response and Sponsor Fallout
Luzu TV confirmed Peña's resignation and dismissed all those responsible for the error. The network stated, "Luzu TV deeply regrets what happened... our channel finds the dissemination of sensitive information without proper prior verification unacceptable." Reports indicate up to ten brands have dropped sponsorship of the streaming channel, launched in 2020 and popular in Argentina.
Messi Family's Plea for Privacy
In their statement, the Messi family criticized those spreading false information and asked for privacy. They said, "The Messi family informs that Jorge Messi is currently going through a health situation... he is under medical supervision, recovering and progressing favorably." They emphasized that only immediate family has accurate information and urged responsibility and humanity.
Earlier this week, Messi revealed personal reasons behind his emotional celebration during Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria in the World Cup. He thanked his teammates for support during a difficult period, saying, "I cried after the first goal... it was something completely unrelated to football. I went through some difficult days, but I'm grateful to the entire delegation."
