“Suck my tongue” – the images that forced the Dalai Lama to apologize

The Dalai Lama has apologized on Twitter after a video of him kissing a boy on the lips and asking him to “suck his tongue” was posted on social media.

After criticism poured in on social media, the Office of the Tibetan Spiritual Leader said it wanted to apologize to the boy and his family “for the pain his words may have caused.”

“His Holiness wishes to apologize to the child and his family, as well as to his many friends around the world, for the pain that his words could have caused him” – the note published on social media shows.

The announcement continues: “His Holiness often makes fun of the people he meets in an innocent and joking way, even in public and in front of television cameras. Regret this incident,” the message continued.

Incident dated February 28

The video was filmed during an event on February 28, when the Dalai Lama spoke to a group of students at the Tsuglagkhang temple in Dharamshala, northern India.

In the video we see a little boy approaching a microphone and asking the Buddhist spiritual leader: “Can I hug you?”. The Nobel Peace Prize winner invites the child on stage, saying “Here first” and points to his cheek, which the child kisses.

Then, he continues: “Then I’m thinking here too” and points to his lips. The Dalai Lama then brings the child’s chin towards him and kisses him on the lips. Laughter and applause can be heard in the video.

The two touch heads, before the Dalai Lama sticks out his tongue and says, “And suck my tongue.” When the two embrace, later in the video, and the Dalai Lama tickles the child.