The Dalai Lama has apologised after the circulation online of a video that shows him kissing a boy on the lips and inviting him to “suck my tongue”. The strange incident happened in February at a public gathering in Dharamsala, India, where the exiled leader of Tibetan Buddhism resides.
The 87-year-old Dalai Lama interacts with the youngster, but none of the other characters in the movie seem to find it offensive. However, after the video clip went viral online, many people expressed their fury and disgust over it.
“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,” says the statement on the Dalai Lama’s official Twitter feed.
“His Holiness wishes to apologise to the boy and his family, as well as 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 Dalai Lama gestures for the kid, who has not been named, to come up to the table where he is sitting, inviting him to kiss his cheek and then his lips, drawing adoring gasps from the bystanders. Finally, he utters, "And suck my tongue," before sticking out his tongue.
In traditional Tibetan culture, sticking out one’s tongue is a sign of respect or agreement and was formerly a way of greeting, often used as a greeting in traditional Tibetan culture.