Florencia Peña announced on air that Jorge Messi had died, citing unverified social media rumors. The family quickly issued a statement confirming he was recovering under medical care.
3:07 AM
Actress and broadcaster Florencia Peña was removed from Luzu TV on Thursday after announcing on her program "El Show del Verano" that Jorge Messi, father of footballer Lionel Messi, had died.
Peña made the announcement shortly after 1 p.m. local time, stating: "I don't want to give bad news, but Messi's dad just died." She delivered the information in a joking tone while expressing confusion about the circumstances.
The announcement was based on false rumors circulating on social media. Within minutes, Messi's family issued an official statement clarifying that Jorge Messi, despite facing health challenges, was "under medical supervision, recovering and evolving favorably."
Peña subsequently apologized on air, saying she had "eaten the curve" and fallen for the fake news. She later appeared on another program in tears, telling SQP: "I made a mistake, I got confused. They know at Luzu how things happened. But here I am facing it as always, asking for my most sincere apologies. I never wanted to hurt anyone."
Nicolás Occhiato, owner and founder of Luzu TV, issued a strong statement expressing "absolute rejection and deep indignation" at the error. He emphasized his disagreement with how the information had been handled by those involved in the program.
Following Occhiato's statement, Peña was removed from the channel. Luzu TV later announced the departure of "all those responsible involved" in the incident.
The false report drew widespread criticism from journalists and media figures. Dominique Metzger, a journalist at TN and El Trece, emphasized the distinction between entertainers and communicators, stating that those with a microphone must demonstrate professionalism and responsibility, and that "not everything goes" in journalism.
Yanina Latorre criticized the announcement as "unpleasant," noting that speculation about Jorge Messi's health had begun days earlier when Lionel Messi became emotional during a match on Tuesday, scoring three goals for Argentina.
Rodrigo Lussich, host of "Intrusos," directed criticism at Occhiato, questioning his decision to remove staff while distancing himself from Peña. Lussich stated that as owner and editor responsible for the channel's content, Occhiato should have issued clear directives about handling the false version that had circulated for hours before the broadcast.
Peña co-hosts "El Show del Verano" with Marley, who was in the United States covering the 2026 World Cup at the time of the incident.
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