A video of the Dalai Lama kissing a child on the lips and asking him to “suck his tongue” has sparked an uproar of outrage on social media.
The images were recorded last month, during a rally for the M3M Indian Foundation. In the video, the 87-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader addresses his supporters and students from his exile in Dharamshala; shortly after, a child approaches the microphone and asks for a hug.
The child, called to the stage and hugged by the Tibetan monk, gives the Buddhist leader a kiss on the cheek. At that point, the Dalai Lama kisses the child on the lips, and he is seen sticking out his tongue as he asks the child to “suck it.”
Dalai Lama sexually assaults a child!
Why isn’t the media talking about this?
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) April 10, 2023
The video elicited a wide range of reactions, from anger to support for the monk. While his supporters claimed that the Dalai Lama was “joking” with the child, some criticized his behavior, calling it creepy.
The Dalai Lama later issued a statement apologizing for his actions. “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.”
The statement added, “His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and in front of the cameras,” the statement continued, reiterating the “regret for the incident.”
