Presenter resigns after false Messi death

Argentine television presenter Florencia Peña has resigned after apologizing to Lionel Messi’s family for falsely reporting the death of the football star’s father.

During a live television show, the 51-year-old host said:

“I don’t want to give bad news, but I have to tell you that Messi’s father has just passed away. It happened suddenly.”

Her statement quickly spread on social media, creating a wave of mourning across Argentina. However, she later clarified that the death had not been confirmed.

When the news reached Messi’s family, they dismissed it as baseless. They stated that while Messi’s father was indeed unwell and receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness, he was recovering.

Following this, Peña apologized on social media expressing shame and regret. She said she had trusted information provided by her production team and regretted being part of the mistake. She also announced her resignation.

Meanwhile, the television network has launched an investigation into the incident.