Drago Prvulovic/Reuters
The Dalai Lama issued a public apology Monday after video of him kissing a young boy on the lips and asking the child to “suck my tongue” prompted outrage online.
Over the weekend, footage circulated on social media showing the Tibetan Buddhist leader interacting with the boy, first raising his chin to kiss him before audibly making the request for the child to suck his tongue. The Dalai Lama then sticks his tongue out as other people in attendance can be heard laughing.
“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,” the apology statement read. “His Holiness wishes to apologize to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused.”