Dalai Lama apologizes after controversial act in which he asks a child to "suck the tongue"

A video of the Dalai Lama asking a child to kiss him and “suck his tongue” went viral over the weekend with negative comments. For this reason, the spiritual leader apologized via statement for the damage that could have been caused

The Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibet, offered an apology this Monday, April 10, after a video appeared on social networks over the weekend asking a child to kiss him on the mouth and then asking him to kiss him. “suck the tongue”

Through a statement, the Dalai Lama apologized to the child and his family for what had happened; as with many people around the world who found the situation controversial.

“A video has circulated showing a recent meeting, in which a young boy asks His Holiness the Dalai Lama if he can give him a hug. His Holiness wishes to apologize to the boy and his family, as well as to his many friends around the world, for the damage his words have caused,” the Dalai Lama said.

From the Buddhist leader’s office, it was insisted that “he often teases people he meets in an innocent and mischievous way, even in public and on camera.”

In the footage, released over the weekend, the Dalai Lama is seen calling out to a boy in a yellow sweater, who wanted to say hello. After giving him a kiss on the cheek and hugging him, the spiritual leader asked him for a kiss on the mouth and then to “suck his tongue.”

Various reactions on social networks did not wait for the behavior of the Buddhist monk, describing them as outrageous and reprehensible.

The Dalai Lama thing is unfortunate, it is impossible to understand from any point of view or analysis. But above all things I wonder how someone who gives advice, and is supposed to be wise, makes a mistake of such a magnitude far from wisdom! With children NOTHING!!

— Monica Fernandez (@monifernandez) April 10, 2023

Has been #disgusting see how this false “spiritual leader” (expert in lobbying for a foreign power against China) has used a religion, to cover up and at the same time promote, the criminal
practice of #PEDOPHILIA pic.twitter.com/cdOh7fWMiH

—Tarek William Saab (@TarekWiliamSaab) April 9, 2023

Dalai Lama?

I can only say something…

Disgust!

– Alberto Barradas (@Psicovivir) April 9, 2023

The Dalai Lama kissing a child on the mouth at a Buddhist event in India is something really out of place and I call it unusual and should not happen. After the kiss, what followed was worse, it is something unheard of, a horror, abhorrent, atrocious and repulsive. Justify it…

— Jose Grasso (@josegrasso) April 10, 2023

The deputy coordinator of Cecodap, Abel Saraiba, described as “regrettable” the video where the Dalai Lama appears “sexually assaulting” the child. He explained that there are no religious or cultural excuses that justify practices that threaten or justify actions against minors.

“It does not matter if they wear a cassock, if they wear a tunic, if you wear any religious, political or cultural outfit, nothing justifies sexual assault against children and adolescents or anyone. The limit of any cultural practice is precisely respect for human rights,” Saraiba said in a video posted on social networks.

He asked that care must be taken in how to spread the message, since the minor’s face is exposed repeatedly without censorship.