The Dalai Lama has apologized after a video emerged showing him asking a boy to “suck his tongue” sparked a backlash.

The Tibetan spiritual leader’s office apologized to the child and his family “for the hurt his words may have caused” in a statement.

“His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and in front of the cameras. He regrets the incident,” his office added.

The incident reportedly took place at the Dalai Lama’s temple in Dharamsala on February 28. The Tibetan spiritual leader’s foundation posted photos of the event on social media in March, and in one of them, the Dalai Lama is seen hugging the boy from the viral video.

In particular, the Dalai Lama is seen leading a ceremony, surrounded by other people sitting next to him. A boy dressed in a yellow sweatshirt then appears waiting at the bottom of the stage, while a woman beckons him to come closer. When the child approaches the Dalai Lama, he shows him his right cheek for the child to kiss. The child, visibly moved, kisses and hugs him. Then the leader turns and they are face to face and with his fingers he points to his mouth, inviting him to give him a kiss. Oh and it happened… Immediately afterwards the Dalai Lama asks the little boy to “suck his tongue” and the child does!

Sticking one’s tongue out can be a form of greeting in Tibet, the BBC explains.

In 2019, the Dalai Lama’s office again apologized after the spiritual leader told the BBC in an interview that any future female Dalai Lama must be “attractive”.