The Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, apologized on Monday for a video in which he asked a young boy to suck his tongue.
“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,” the Dalai Lama’s official Twitter account said in a statement.
“His Holiness wishes to apologize to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends around the world, for any hurt caused by his words,” the post continued.
“His Holiness frequently teases people he meets in an innocent and playful manner, even in public and in front of cameras,” according to the statement. “He is sorry about the incident.”
It’s unclear when the video was shot, but it’s been going viral on social media for more than a week. The Dalai Lama’s representatives did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
In the video, the Dalai Lama kisses a boy on the lips before caressing his chin and pressing their foreheads together at an event. Following their conversation, the spiritual leader pats the boy on the arm and says, “Suck my tongue.”
The audience laughs as he sticks his tongue out and the boy moves closer. The clip then cuts out and the rest of the exchange is not shown.
A separate clip from the exchange shows the same boy being lectured by the Dalai Lama on how to find happiness. The Dalai Lama is then seen hugging the boy.
The Dalai Lama, a Nobel laureate, has been in exile for more than six decades. He preaches primarily from his base in northern India, where he is now 87 years old.
