The Dalai Lama’s age has led to growing speculation about who, if anyone, may succeed him and whether a woman could assume the role. In a 2015 interview with the BBC, he made remarks that many considered sexist, saying that a woman could be the Dalai Lama, but needed to be “very attractive” or else she would be of “not much use.”

During another BBC interview in June 2019, reporter Rajini Vaidyanathan asked the Dalai Lama if he understood how his comments could have angered women. He similarly stated that a female Dalai Lama “should be more attractive,” or else people would “prefer not see her … that face.”

A week later, the Dalai Lama’s office released a statement saying he meant no harm, but was “deeply sorry” that his comments hurt people.

In 2016, the Dalai Lama gave an unflattering impression of then-U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in an interview with ITV’s Good Morning Britain, making fun of his hairstyle and small mouth.