After a video of him meeting a kid in February went viral, the Dalai Lama is offering a public apology via his verified Twitter account.

After a video of his interaction with a little boy went viral, the Dalai Lama issued an apology.

According to accounts, the Dalai Lama drew a lot of backlash after he was filmed asking a frightening question to a little youngster who had originally asked him whether he may give him a hug.

According to detailed accounts of the meeting, the Dalai Lama then allegedly asked the child to “suck his tongue” before appearing to give the boy a “peck on the lips” in front of an audience that clapped and cheered for the encounter.

“A video clip has gone viral showing a recent encounter in which a young boy asked His Holiness the Dalai Lama if he might hug him. His Holiness wishes to apologize to the boy, his family, and his many friends around the world for any hurt caused by his comments.

Even in public and in front of cameras, His Holiness frequently teases persons he meets in an innocent and fun manner. He is sorry for what happened.

The video currently has over 1 million views.

According to the BBC, the 87-year-old spiritual guru is of Tibetan origin, and sticking one’s tongue out is sometimes regarded as a greeting in Tibet. Yet, the Dalai Lama’s engagement with the boy was condemned by HAQ: Center for Child Rights, a Delhi-based child rights organization.

“Some news relates to Tibetan culture about revealing tongue,” HAQ stated, “but this video is clearly not about any cultural expression, and even if it is, such cultural displays are not allowed.”

The child’s family has not released a comment detailing their reaction to the interaction.