Argentine TV host quits over Jorge Messi’s death controversy
Argentine television host Florencia Pena has resigned from Luzu TV after falsely announcing live on air that Argentina captain Lionel Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, had suddenly passed away.
Argentine television presenter Florencia Pena has resigned from streaming network Luzu TV after falsely reporting live on air that Jorge Messi, the father of national team captain Lionel Messi, had died.
The erroneous announcement was broadcast mid-tournament during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, forcing the Messi family to issue a swift public denial to clarify the true situation.
Pena explained that the critical error occurred during a live broadcast of “El Show del Verano” when production crew members relayed unverified information directly into her earpiece.
Believing the data had been fully vetted, she repeated it to viewers. Following immense backlash, Pena issued a public apology via social media, stating she felt deeply ashamed to serve as the vehicle for such pain.
In response, the Messi family confirmed that Jorge is hospitalized under strict medical supervision and progressing favorably from an undisclosed health condition. They strongly condemned the irresponsible media speculation.
Luzu TV management immediately canceled the program and terminated all production staff responsible for the unverified broadcast, citing a complete breach of the station’s rigorous communication and verification standards.
