After footage of him kissing a boy’s lips and asking him to “suck his tongue”, the Dalai Lama apologized.

According to the Buddhist spiritual leader’s office, he wanted to apologize to the boy and his family for any hurt he may have caused.

According to the report, the 87-year old “often teases people in an innocent and playful way”, but he “regrets” the incident.

This footage was captured at an event that took place on 28 February, when the Dalai Lama addressed students at the Tsuglagkhang Temple in Dharamshala.

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It shows a young boy approaching a microphone to ask the Dalai Lama if he can hug him.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner invites a boy to come on stage and says “first here” before pointing to his cheek. He then kisses his cheek and then says “then I think also here” and points to his lips.

The boy is then pulled towards him by his chin and he kisses the child.

You can hear laughter and clapping in the video.

They touch their heads before the Dalai Lama sucks their tongues and sticks his tongue out.

The Dalai Lama tickles the boy underneath the arms when the two of them embrace later in video.

“He regrets the incident”

The office of the Dalai Lama stated in a statement that: “A video clip circulated that shows a recent meeting where a young boy asks His Holiness the Dalai Lama whether he would give him a hug.”

“His Holiness would like to apologize to the boy, his family, and all of his friends around the world for any hurt he may have caused.

“His Holiness teases people in a playful and innocent way. He does this even before cameras. He regrets the incident.

In Dalai Lama’s native Tibet, greetings can be expressed by sticking one’s tongue out.

Previous controversy

This isn’t the first time that the Dalai Lama has been controversial.

He apologized in 2019 for saying that if his successor was a woman, “she should look more attractive.”

Tenzin Gyatso is the 14th Dalai Lama. He was born in Tibet, and has lived in India since 1959 as a refugee after fleeing his country in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule.