The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama was recently targeted in a ‘tailored’ video clip that went viral online. Media and individuals on social media, unaware of the ‘context’ of the 20-second video clip made serious accusations of a sexual offence against the spiritual leader. However, some of them later regret their decision and apologize.
A 20 second clip from the video coverage of an event where 120 recently graduated college students interacted with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 28 February, 2023 was shared on the social media, by some fake accounts, having connections to China in the beginning of April, 2023. This was used by some media agencies and other individuals to launch accusations of sexual offence against the spiritual because the ‘tailored’ video clip of his interaction with a young boy at the event only showed him kissing the boy and using the words ‘suck my tongue’.
However, the context of the ‘tailored’ video clip that can be understood by watching the whole clip of their interaction was immediately brought into the discussion by people aware of the event and cultural practices of the Tibetan people. In addition to people sharing their explanation of misrepresented incident on the social media, thousands of people around the world took to the streets to protest all accusations labeled on the spiritual leader.
People like Shraddha Arya, a popular TV character in India issued her apologies following the uproaring protest against accusing the Tibetan spiritual leader. Arya explained in her post on the social media that she would like to apologize if her words were too harsh.
“Apologies if my choice of words used to criticise the incident were too harsh. Sadly, India is infested with child abuse and it’s already very heartbreaking, hence. Any act or words that suggest child mistreatment are extremely enraging and unappreciated #loveoverhate (sic)” Shraddha Arya said in her post on the social media.
Similiary, Bigboss fame, Sophia Hayat also issued an apologetic statement in support of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. She explained in her video that her initial accusations against the spiritual leader was her immediate reaction without much context. On looking for the evidence, she think that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is innocent.
Thousands of people across the today are campaigning in demand from those media agencies to apologize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for spreading misinformation as intended by the Chinese government to defame the spiritual leader.
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