Dalai Lama Apologises to Boy And Family After Flak Over ‘Suck My Tongue’ Remark
The team of Buddhist spiritual leaders claimed that he “often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way”.
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After facing flak over a video wherein the 14th Dalai Lama can be seen allegedly kissing a boy on his lips, the Tibetan spiritual leader tendered an apology to the minor and his family.
In a statement posted on the Dalai Lama’s official Twitter account, the team of Buddhist spiritual leaders claimed that he “often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way”.
The apology also included that he “regrets” his actions that may have hurt many.
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 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.
@DalaiLama via Twitter
— Dalai Lama (@DalaiLama) April 10, 2023
In the undated video posted by Twitter user @NiSiv4, the Dalai Lama can be purportedly seen asking the boy to kiss him on his right cheek, to which the kid obliges.
Later, the spiritual leader can be seen pulling the boy’s face and touching his forehead. A few seconds after that, the video appears to show the Dalai Lama jokingly telling the boy to “suck his tongue”.
Since then, the clip has gone viral, shocking netizens from all around the world who have sought tough action against the 87-year-old.
Indian playback singer Chinmayi Sripaada tweeted:
What the Dalai Lama is doing here is straight up child sexual abuse. Men of religion prey on women and kids of all people in the world, I’m disappointed that the Dalai Lama ended up being one of them. If this is his standard behaviour – there have to be more monks he’s molested.
Indian playback singer Chinmayi Sripaada
Another Twitter user @AVenezuelan19 said:
If he does these things in public, imagine what he does privately. Freaking disgusting. What in the world? People please protect the children.
@AVenezuelan19 via Twitter
On the other hand, many also argued that the Dalai Lama sticking his tongue out was a part of Tibetan culture when it came to greeting someone.
Scouring the internet, several studies showed that in Tibetan culture, sticking one’s tongue out is a sign of greeting and respect.
Additionally, according to Tibetan folklore, a cruel ninth-century Tibetan king had a black tongue, so people stick out their tongues to show that they are not like him (and aren’t his reincarnation).
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