Dalai Lama Apologizes for Asking Boy to ‘Suck My Tongue’
"His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras," he said of the stunning public sexual assault.
Entertainment

The Dalai Lama is a touchy-feely guy. He’s fond of holding hands—just ask Lady Gaga, Sharon Stone, Jeremy Renner, Eva Longoria, or King Charles. He’s super into a chin tug. He’s got a real penchant for pressing his forehead against another’s. Hell, give me a few G&T’s, and we have a lot in common. I, however, understand consent where strangers—especially children—are concerned. Sadly, the same cannot be said of the 87-year-old spiritual leader.
On Monday, footage went viral of the Dalai Lama kissing a young boy on the lips and prompting him to “suck my tongue” during a public event in celebration of 100 young students who’d just graduated from the Indian M3M Foundation. The disturbing video shows the child approaching the Dalai Lama after he asked to give him a hug. When the boy reaches the platform to embrace him, the man motions to his cheek. “First here,” he can be heard saying. Then the Dalai Lama instructs the child to kiss him on the mouth by gesturing toward his lips, and he guides the boy’s face to do so with his hand. Finally, he says: “Suck my tongue,” as he leans his tongue closer and closer to the boy’s face. Let’s be clear: It’s not just an unsettling display from start to finish; it’s the sexual assault of a child before a captive audience.