Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, apologized Monday after a video of him kissing a child’s lips sparked criticism.
In a statement posted on his official website, the 87-year-old leader regretted the incident, saying, “To the boy and his family, and to his many friends around the world, his words have come. I wanted to apologize for the pain I caused.”
The incident occurred at a rally he held in February at the Tuglakhan Temple in Dharamsala, where the exiled leader lives.
When the boy asked if he could give him a hug, he was being questioned by the audience.
In the video, when he pointed to his own cheek, the child kissed and then hugged. After that, the Dalai Lama asked the boy to kiss his lips and stick out his tongue.
In his statement, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said, “His Holiness often makes fun of people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and in front of the cameras.
India considers Tibet part of China even though it is home to Tibetan exiles.