The revered spiritual leader of the Tibetans, the Dalai Lama, has issued a public apology after a video surfaced of him kissing a young boy on the mouth and then telling the child to “suck his tongue.” The incident occurred in February during an event in the hillside city of Dharamshala, India, held by the philanthropy group M3M Foundation.
𤢠This is an alarming scene! The Dalai Lama, who has had ties to NXIVM in the past, caught on camera trying to make advances to an Indian boy.
You can clearly see the boy's body language as he yanks back the first time, then throws his head upward as the Dalai-Lama says "SUCK⌠pic.twitter.com/CorBr8tiDz
— NATLY DENISE (@NatlyDenise_) April 9, 2023
The exiled leader’s apology, posted to his Twitter account with over 19 million followers, expressed regret for any hurt his words may have caused to the boy, his family, and anyone else affected. The statement also explained that the Dalai Lama often teases people in a playful manner, even in public and in front of cameras, and that he regrets the incident.
Missing some context here @DalaiLama https://t.co/wCjdmY8eT3 pic.twitter.com/JS1mxQlkIT
— Yashar Ali đ Űاشاع (@yashar) April 10, 2023
However, the video sparked intense criticism and backlash on social media, with prominent figures and child rights groups condemning “all forms of child abuse.” Haq: Center for Child Rights, a respected organization advocating for children’s welfare in the area, stated that the video did not involve any cultural expression and that such behavior was unacceptable.
Journalist Yashar Ali and writer Ian Miles Cheong were among those who questioned the timing of the Dalai Lama’s apology and demanded more context.
âThis sick, disturbing video of the Dalai Lama making a child suck his tongue emerged months ago, but it has only just now made waves on social mediaâprompting the âholyâ man to issue an apology,â writer Ian Miles Cheong wrote on Twitter. âWhy wasnât it a problem for him before it went viral?â
Meanwhile, Professor Gad Saad commented that the incident was not very “holy.”
This controversy has raised important issues regarding the boundaries of playful behavior, cultural differences, and child protection. It also highlights the scrutiny and accountability that public figures face in the age of social media.
