Dalai Lama’s Attractive Female Successor Comments Termed Sexist, Condemned

Jun 29, 2019, 12:39 IST

Hyderabad: Back in 2015, the Dalai Lama with an interview with BBC commented that if he had a woman successor or a female Dalai Lama, she better be attractive. In 2019, the Nobel Prize winner has stood by his comments. In a recent interview with the same channel, he reiterated his statement saying, "If a female Dalai Lama comes, she should be more attractive."

He also emphasized that people doesn't want to see a face that is not "attractive". The interviewer pointed out that his statement could be considered sexist by some, especially since he has had championed inner confidence and tolerance at one point.

He replied, "Yes, I think both. Real beauty is inner beauty. That is true. But we, human beings, [for us] appearance is also important."

And Twitter was unsparing and the viral posts was responded with anger and disappointment.

Watch the interview here:

This was perhaps the most surprising moment in the interview. I asked the Dalai Lama if he stood by his earlier comment that if his successor was female, she should be attractive.

He said he did. Watch here:#DalaiLama #BBCDalaiLama. pic.twitter.com/QAy0EFDZTT

— Rajini Vaidyanathan (@BBCRajiniV) June 27, 2019

Have a look:

Ok I’m done deluding myself about #DalaiLama. I’ve been doing it for way too long. This is, truly, who he is. ?? https://t.co/cxAtmNBQZJ

— Anahita Mukherji (@Newspaperwalli) June 29, 2019

What I find interesting is he has never been physically attractive! Why hold his successor to a higher standard of attractiveness? lol

— Aunty_Dawn (@dia_2008) June 28, 2019