Dalai Lama defended over tongue-sucking remark

A top Tibetan leader has defended the Dalai Lama over a video that showed him asking a child to suck his tongue.

Penpa Tsering, head of Tibet's government-in-exile, has called the spiritual leader's actions "innocent" and said it demonstrated his "affectionate behaviour".

The video sparked outrage after it went viral on social media, with users calling his actions inappropriate.

The Dalai Lama's office has apologised over the incident.

In the video, the Dalai Lama can be heard asking the boy to kiss him on his cheek and then his lips after the boy asks if he can give him a hug.

The leader then put his forehead to that of the boy's, before sticking out his tongue, saying "and suck my tongue". read more