The Dalai Lama Apologizes for Controversial Gesture

The Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, issued an apology on Monday for an incident that occurred during an audience with a boy a few weeks ago. The video of the incident went viral on social media, causing controversy and outrage among many netizens.

In the video, the Dalai Lama can be seen pulling his tongue out and asking the boy to suck it. Although the gesture was intended to be playful and innocent, it was met with criticism by many people who deemed it inappropriate and disrespectful.

“His Holiness wishes to apologize to the boy and his family, as well as to his many friends around the world, for any pain that his words may have caused,” indicates a statement on his official Twitter account.

The statement also explains that the Dalai Lama often jokes with people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and in front of the cameras. However, he regrets this particular incident and the pain it has caused.

This is not the first time the Dalai Lama has faced criticism for his comments. In 2019, he had to apologize for saying that if a woman were to succeed him, she would have to be “attractive.” These comments caused controversy and backlash among the public.

Although the Dalai Lama is the representative of the movement for the autonomy of Tibet, his international presence has diminished in recent years due to his age and China’s growing economic and political influence.

Despite these controversies, the Dalai Lama continues to be a revered spiritual leader and a symbol of peace and compassion for millions of people around the world.