The Dalai Lama has issued an apology after a viral video showed him asking a young boy to "suck my tongue".
The clip of the Tibetan Buddhist leader was recorded during an event in northern India's hillside city of Dharamshala in February. Many on social media have begun reacting to the strange interaction in which the religious figurehead kisses the child on the lips before making the disturbing request.
A statement from the Dalai Lama's office today said he "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." The 87-year-old added that he "regrets" his actions, the Mirror reports.
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The stament also highlighted that "his Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras". In the video, the young boy approaches the spiritual teacher.
He then asks him "Can I hug you", to which the Dalai Lama responds by inviting him on stage. Once in front of him, the Dalai Lama points to his cheek and says "first here" as he encourages the boy to kiss and hug him.
Afterwards, he points to his lips and says "then I think finally here also". He then pulls the boy in for a kiss on the lips, before apparently joking "and suck my tongue" before poking his out of his mouth.
A Delhi-based childrens' rights groups, Haq, commented on the incident and told CNN that while the interaction has been blamed on a form of "cultural expression" in Tibet, this particular case is "not acceptable".
A Haq statement reads: “Some news refers to Tibetan culture about showing tongue, but this video is certainly not about any cultural expression and even if it is, such cultural expressions are not acceptable.”
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