TV presenter resigns after wrongly announcing death of Lionel Messi’s father

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Argentine television presenter Florencia Peña has resigned following a major on-air blunder in which she announced the death of Jorge Messi, father of football superstar Lionel Messi.

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According to a report by L’Equipe on Friday, the incident occurred during the programme “El Show del Verano” on Luzu TV. Peña was reportedly fed the false information through her earpiece by the production team.

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The erroneous announcement quickly spread before it was debunked by members of the Messi family. Jorge Messi is alive and has been reported to be recovering from health issues.

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The channel issued a statement immediately after condemning the lapse, describing the broadcast of sensitive information without proper verification as “inacceptable.”

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Luzu TV said it had decided to dismiss those responsible for the error, while Peña chose to step down. “We regret deeply what happened on air,” the station stated.

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Peña later took to social media to apologise to the Messi family, admitting she was deeply ashamed for causing them pain. She revealed that she had personally contacted 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.

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The matter drew strong reactions in Argentina, including from President Javier Milei, who criticised the journalist harshly on social media, calling her a “commère mesquine” (petty gossip) and stating that an attack on Messi is an attack on everyone.

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The story has sparked widespread discussions online, particularly among football fans.

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A post by football coverage handle #TouchlineX, which detailed the resignation and apology, elicited varied reactions.

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One user, #3getKennethed22, commented “This is bad communication from the production team and she doesn’t have to resign for it.”

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Another, #bodex333, noted “You have to take some minutes to digest info before going on air and announce such info without legit confirmation.”

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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.”

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Peña’s resignation marks the end of what has been described as a career-damaging error, though her prompt apology and direct outreach to the Messi family have been acknowledged by some as responsible steps.

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