Argentine television presenter Florencia Peña has stepped down from her role after a serious on-air error in which she wrongly announced the death of Jorge Messi, the father of football icon Lionel Messi.
According to L’Equipe on Friday, the mistake happened during a live broadcast of “El Show del Verano” on Luzu TV, where Peña reportedly received the incorrect information through her earpiece from the production team.
The false report was aired and quickly circulated before being corrected, with members of the Messi family confirming that Jorge Messi is still alive and recovering from health-related issues.
Luzu TV later released a statement condemning the incident, describing the broadcast of unverified sensitive information as “inacceptable.”
The network also confirmed that those responsible for the misinformation had been dismissed, while Peña opted to resign from her position. “We regret deeply what happened on air,” the station stated.
Following the incident, Peña publicly apologised to the Messi family on social media, admitting she was deeply ashamed for the distress caused.
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She also disclosed that she had personally reached out to Lionel Messi’s mother, Celia Cuccittini.
In an emotional appearance on another programme, “Sálvese Quien Pueda,” the visibly distraught presenter explained the circumstances leading to her resignation.
The episode sparked widespread backlash in Argentina, including criticism from President Javier Milei, who reacted on social media, describing Peña as a “commère mesquine” (petty gossip) and insisting that any attack on Messi is an attack on the nation.
The incident also triggered extensive debate online, particularly among football supporters. A post from football coverage account #TouchlineX outlining the resignation and apology drew mixed reactions.
One user, #3getKennethed22, commented “This is bad communication from the production team and she doesn’t have to resign for it.”
Another, #bodex333, noted “You have to take some minutes to digest info before going on air and announce such info without legit confirmation.”
While #Osinbolu1 observed “One wrong cue in the earpiece… and a simple mistake becomes global news involving one of the most sensitive names in football.”
Peña’s resignation brings an abrupt end to the controversy, though her swift apology and outreach to the Messi family have been noted by some observers as responsible damage-control steps.