Dalai Lama regrets asking boy to ‘suck my tongue’

The Dalai Lama has apologised after footage showed him asking a boy if he wanted to suck the Tibetan spiritual leader’s tongue.

“Dalai Lama wanted to apologise to the child and his family “for the hurt his words may have caused,” said a statement issued from his office. The video also shows the Dalai Lama kissing the child on his lips.

“His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident,” aod the statement.

The footage has sparked widespread criticism, with many social media users saying it was inappropriate and disturbing.

The incident seems to have taken place at the Dalai Lama’s temple in Dharamshala on 28 February. He had interacted with around 120 students who had completed a skills training programme organised by the M3M Foundation, the philanthropic arm of real estate company M3M Group.

The foundation uploaded photos from the event on social media in March – in one of them, the Dalai Lama is seen hugging the boy from the viral video.

In the video which has circulated online, the boy is seen asking if he can hug the Dalai Lama. The leader motions to his cheek, saying “first here” and the boy kisses his cheek and gives him a hug.

Then, while holding the boy’s hand, the Dalai Lama motions to his lips and says “I think here also”, and kisses the boy on the lips. The leader then puts his forehead to that of the boy’s, before sticking out his tongue, saying “and suck my tongue”. As people laugh, the boy sticks his tongue out before withdrawing a little, as does the Dalai Lama.