Argentine Host Resigns in Tears After Falsely Reporting Messi's Father Had Died
Argentine TV host Florencia Peña resigned after falsely reporting Lionel Messi's father had died on live television, saying she is "deeply ashamed" for the pain she caused.
Argentine television presenter Florencia Peña resigned Friday after reporting live on air that Jorge Messi, father of soccer legend Lionel Messi, had died, a claim the family swiftly and emphatically denied.
The false report set off a storm across social media and the sports world before the Messi family issued an official statement Thursday night clarifying that Jorge Messi is alive, recovering from a heart condition under medical supervision, and that his condition is improving.
In a statement accompanying her resignation, Peña said the false information had been passed to her through her earpiece during the live broadcast by the show's production team, and that she had reported it in good faith. "I must clarify that this incorrect information was passed to me during the live broadcast as verified by the show's production team, and I trusted it," she said. "Nevertheless, I take responsibility for being part of this mistake, and I have therefore decided to vacate my place on this program."
Her words carried the weight of genuine remorse. "I apologize to the Messi family for the terrible moment I imagine they went through," she wrote. "I am deeply ashamed to have been the instrument that caused this pain. I say again from the bottom of my heart: I was wrong."
The Messi family, for their part, did not hold back. In their statement, they expressed sharp criticism of Argentine media outlets they said had crossed a line in pursuit of sensation, describing the conduct as disrespectful and inappropriate. The family stressed that only those closest to Jorge Messi have the full picture of his condition, and that any version, statement, or information not coming directly from the family should be treated as unreliable.
They closed with a request for the public to show responsibility and humanity, while thanking the outpouring of warmth and support they received.
For a family that has spent decades in the most unrelenting glare of global fame, it was a painful reminder that even in moments of private vulnerability, there is no shelter from the noise.