Dalai Lama issues apology to boy, his family after row over ‘suck my tongue’ remark

In his apology, the Buddhist monk said that he regrets the incident and that he tends to interact with people in a ‘playful and innocent’ manner

Amid the outrage over a video of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama kissing a boy on his lips and asking him to suck his tongue, Dalai Lama on Sunday issued an apology to the boy’s family as well as to his well-wishers.

In his apology, the Buddhist monk said that he regrets the incident and he tends to interact with people in a ‘playful and innocent’ manner.

“A video clip has been circulating that shows a recent meeting when a young boy asked his Holiness the Dalai Lama if he could give him a hug. His Holiness wishes to apologise to the boy and his family, as well as to his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused. His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident,” the statement read.

pic.twitter.com/vlmUbI4vqz

— Dalai Lama (@DalaiLama) April 10, 2023

A video of the Dalai Lama is widely circulating on social media, in which the Nobel Peace Prize laureate is seen kissing a boy on his lips and later sticking out his tongue and asking the boy to suck on it while the latter was paying his respects.

Watch the video here:

🤢 This is an alarming scene! The Dalai Lama, who has had ties to NXIVM in the past, caught on camera trying to make advances to an Indian boy.

You can clearly see the boy's body language as he yanks back the first time, then throws his head upward as the Dalai-Lama says "SUCK… pic.twitter.com/CorBr8tiDz

— NΛTLY DΞNISΞ (@NatlyDenise_) April 9, 2023

This act of the holy Dalai Lama has not gone over well among the people and his well-wishers.

Netizens expressed shock and disapproval of the incident, with many describing the action as “creepy”, “disgusting”, and “repulsive”.

Users also commented on the troubling behaviour of other people seen in the footage, who seemed unperturbed by the incident.

The Dalai Lama had earlier courted controversy in 2019 for saying that if his successor were to be a woman, she should be “more attractive”. He later apologised for the statement.

Also Read: Dalai Lama’s video asking boy to ‘suck his tongue’ sparks outcry

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