The Dalai Lama apologized Monday, April 10, to a little boy and his family for asking him to “tongue sucking”a few weeks ago during a public hearing, an excerpt of which emerged on social networks.
“His Holiness would like to apologize to the boy and his family, as well as to his many friends around the world, for any pain his words may have caused”indicates a press release published on its official Twitter account.
The video, which aroused the indignation of many Internet users, was shot on February 28, during an audience with the Dalai Lama in McLeod Ganj, on the outskirts of Dharamsala, in northern India. In the excerpt, the 87-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader speaks to a child who has come to greet him on stage. He tries to kiss her on the mouth, and sticks out his tongue, right after asking her in English about him “suck the tongue”, arousing the hilarity of part of the public.
“His Holiness often teases the people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and in front of the cameras. [Elle] regret this incident, explains the press release. In 2019, the Dalai Lama had already issued a public apology for saying that if a woman were to succeed him, she would have to be “seductive”. These words, held during a BBC interviewhad also been controversial.