Luzu TV fired actress Florencia Peña and two producers after the platform broadcast a false report claiming Jorge Messi had died [1].
The incident highlights the volatility of live-streaming news and the severe professional consequences that follow the dissemination of unverified information regarding high-profile public figures.
The streaming platform terminated the contracts of the three responsible staff members [1]. The decision was announced by producer Nicolás Occhiato, who was in Miami when the news broke [2, 3]. The dismissals followed a wave of public backlash and reactions from the family of soccer star Lionel Messi [1, 4].
The controversy began when the broadcast claimed that Jorge Messi, the father of the Argentine captain, had died. The report was quickly debunked as fake news, leading to an immediate crisis for the media outlet [1, 3, 4].
Florencia Peña expressed remorse regarding the incident. "Estoy muy avergonzada," or "I am very ashamed," she said in a video published by TN – Todo Noticias [5].
While most reports confirm the termination of three employees [1], some accounts differ on the nature of the departures. One report suggested Peña chose to step aside, though other sources maintain that the platform fired all individuals involved in the broadcast [2].
“Luzu TV dismissed actress Florencia Peña and two producers”
This event underscores the tension between the speed of digital streaming and traditional journalistic verification. By firing the staff involved, Luzu TV is attempting to mitigate reputational damage and establish a boundary against the 'fake news' trend that frequently targets the families of global icons like Lionel Messi.
