A breaking story can lift a journalist to the heights of fame — or cost them their job. That is what happened to the well-known Argentine television presenter Florencia Peña, who lost her job after airing a false report that Lionel Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, had died.
Peña, 51, announced Jorge Messi’s death on Luzu TV’s programme “El Show del Verano.” When the Messi family dismissed the report as a rumour, the presenter came under heavy criticism.
Argentina opened their World Cup campaign with a 3-0 win over Algeria, a match in which the 38-year-old Messi scored a stunning hat-trick. He was seen in tears after one of the goals — the scene that prompted Peña’s mistaken report.
On air, Peña said, “I don’t want to give bad news, but Messi’s father has just died. He will have to return home in the middle of the World Cup.”
The Messi family later said in a statement that Peña’s claim was untrue. “The Messi family reports that Jorge is going through a health problem,” it said. “He is currently under medical supervision and is recovering.”
The family added, “The news and rumours that have spread over the past few hours have deeply hurt the family. This is an entirely private and family matter, but some people did not show it the appropriate sensitivity and respect.”
Peña then apologised in a statement of her own. “I apologise for the difficult time the Messi family is going through,” she said. “I am deeply ashamed to have caused this pain. During the live broadcast, the show’s production team gave me this false information as verified, and I believed it.”
“Even so, I take responsibility for this mistake,” Peña said. “I have therefore decided to step away from Luzu TV and end my involvement. I apologise again from my heart — I made a mistake.”
Luzu TV also issued a statement. “We are deeply sorry for what happened during the programme,” it said. “Broadcasting sensitive information without proper verification is unacceptable for our channel.”
The channel said it had decided to cut ties with everyone involved in the incident, adding that Florencia Peña had also chosen to step away.
“We reaffirm our commitment to responsible, respectful and accurate journalism,” the channel said.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report