Dalai Lama ‘regrets’ asking young boy to ‘suck my tongue’ in odd viral clip
The Dalai Lama has apologised for asking a young boy to "suck my tongue" during a speech, in footage that subsequently went viral.
The Tibetan spiritual leader was giving an address in an unidentified place when the young boy, seemingly aged around 11, asked from the crowd "can I hug you?"
He was invited up onto the raised platform and embraced the religious figure, before the 87-year-old kissed him on the lips.
READ MORE: World's 'most inbred family' living on 'incest farm' with paedophile leader
He then pulls the child in again and rests his head against the youngster, when they break apart again the Dalai Lama puts out his tongue and says "suck my tongue".
He does it and the crowd laughed, but the embrace appears more awkward than it did at the beginning as the elder pulls the boy in for another hug.
His office have released a statement saying that the religious leader would like to apologise to the boy and his family "for the hurt his words may have caused".
"His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident," his office said in a Twitter statement.
British TV personality Denise Welch replied to the tweet, writing: "The boy didn’t say ‘can I suck your tongue’. He clearly initially withdrew!!!"
Fake Madeleine McCann launches fundraiser to 'get back on her feet' after Poland return
Author and activist Rejimon Kuttappan wrote: "The boy asked a hug. You asked the boy to suck your tongue. We all heard that. Why is it missing in your 'apology'.
"And asking a boy to suck your tounge isnt 'playful' as you have written. Do you see the pain of how that small boy would be thinking about this?"
The exiled Dalai Lama lives in the northern Indian town of Dharamshala. CNN reported that the video was recorded here in February.
The publication reported that the incident took place at an event with the M3M Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Indian real estate company M3M Group.
Some publications reported that sticking one's tongue out is a form of greeting in Tibet, but Delhi-based child rights group, Haq: Center for Child Rights, told CNN that the Dalai Lama's actions are "not acceptable".
"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," a statement read.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.
READ NEXT:
Couple win £40k on lottery playing with a ticket they got for free using voucher
Monster 700-pound fish 'size of grizzly bear' takes on 21 anglers in two-hour tug of war
Teacher 'tried to seduce 10 students with nudes' including daughter's boyfriends
Source: Read Full Article
