"This is unacceptable": An Argentinian presenter resigns after mistakenly announcing on television the death of Lionel Messi's father

Argentine television presenter Florencia Pena mistakenly announced the death of Lionel Messi's father live on air. Amidst a heated controversy in the country, she apologized before resigning.

While the World Cup is in full swing, Argentina isn't only focused on the tournament. The health of Lionel Messi's father is also a hot topic. During the show "El Show del Verano," broadcast on Luzu TV, presenter Florencia Pena announced live on air a fake news story: the death of Jorge Messi, the father of Argentina's number 10. The information, relayed after being passed to her via earpiece by the production team, spread rapidly before being denied by members of the Argentine captain's family.

Faced with the scale of the controversy, the channel issued a statement of apology and denounced the broadcast of sensitive information without prior verification. "We deeply regret what happened on air," Luzu TV stated. "For our channel, broadcasting sensitive information without prior verification is unacceptable. Luzu TV management has decided to dismiss all those responsible, and Florencia Pena will be stepping down," the channel announced.

Lionel Messi's mother has reportedly accepted the journalist's apology

The journalist later apologized to the Messi family on social media, acknowledging her mistake. "I am truly ashamed to have fueled this pain," she wrote. Visibly moved, Florencia Pena appeared distraught during her appearance on the program "Salvese Quien Pueda" after announcing her resignation. She explained that she had contacted Celia Cuccittini, Lionel Messi's mother, who accepted her apology.

Argentine President Javier Milei was far more severe. On social media, he notably called the journalist a "petty gossip." "If you attack Messi, you attack everyone," Milei also posted on his Instagram account. This time, he did not mention Florencia Pena by name.