The Dalai Lama, the Tibetans' 87-year-old spiritual leader, apologised on Monday after footage showed him asking a young boy to "suck my tongue" at a public event.
"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," said a statement on the exiled leader's Twitter account, which has 19 million followers.
"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 said the Dalai Lama leader "often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident".
NEW 🚨 Dalai Lama apologises for asking boy to suck his tongue
READ: https://t.co/plL62X3zZY
pic.twitter.com/3zv8EwxeWS— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) April 10, 2023
The video, which has 1 million views on Twitter, also shows the Nobel peace laureate apparently giving the boy a peck on the lips in presence of an audience who are heard clapping and laughing, while a man captures the moment on a phone. Reuters has not verified the clip.
The Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet, is regarded by Beijing as a dangerous separatist.
He has worked for decades to draw global support for linguistic and cultural autonomy in his remote, mountainous homeland.
He now lives in a compound next to a temple ringed by green hills and snow-capped mountains in the northern Indian town of Dharamshala.
Latest Stories
-
All Regional Games: Gyan, Bawumia launch event at Baba Yara stadium
1 hour -
We have reduced our democracy to ‘moneycracy’ – Haruna Iddrisu
2 hours -
French far right seeks vote win but deadlock looms
2 hours -
3 feared dead after ‘trotro’ runs into traders at Mallam Junction
2 hours -
Common Africa currency: Dr. Bawumia proposes continental mobile money interoperability as alternative
2 hours -
Barniekrom shooting incident: One more suspect arrested, deaths increase to four
2 hours -
Dr. Bawumia’s Vision: MoMo as Africa’s Common Currency
3 hours -
I told Bonaa’s wife to advise him or she might become an ‘innocent victim‘ – COP Tiwaa
3 hours -
Wimbledon 2024: World number one Iga Swiatek booed as she crashes out of competition
3 hours -
‘I don’t deserve to live’ – Chef Smith apologises over fake GWR certificate
3 hours -
Copa America 2024: Brazil dumped out of competition by resilient Uruguay
3 hours -
Ken Kuranchie drags Special Prosecutor to Supreme Court
3 hours -
Badminton Association of Ghana, Tebel donate Badminton equipment to WASS
4 hours -
UHAS Basic School launches campaign to curb drug abuse among the youth
4 hours -
2,225 candidates to sit for this year’s BECE in the Wenchi Municipality
4 hours