Dalai Lama Joke Goes Viral

Added by James Morley on June 16, 2011

An awkward attempt by Australian Today host Karl Stefanovic to crack a joke with the Dalai Lama has attracted global attention, and its not all positive, says ninemsn.

 

Websites around the world, including the Huffington Post, ABD News and the Washington Post, have posted footage of the awkward attempt of a joke in which Stefanovic, during an interview with the Dalai Lama last Friday, goes: “The Dalai Lama walks into a pizza shop.. And he says, ‘Can you make me one with everything?’”.

Before Stefanovic delivers the punchline, the Dalai Lama asks for a translation and does not laugh until Stefanovic admits that he knew the joke would not work.

Although termed a “disaster”, most journalists were fairly sympathetic with the attempt: “Stefanovic took the comedy disaster in stride, so he’s got that going for him, which is nice,” the Huffington Post said.

“This might have gone better if the Dalai Lama understood the concept of pizza toppings. Or if a translator wasn’t needed. Or if Australian Today show host Karl Stefanovic hadn’t collapsed into a fit of giggles,” the Seattle Post commented.

Others were not so light-hearted and criticised Stefanovic for his failed attempt at impressing the political leader, including the Death and Taxes magazine, who wrote: “The Aussie’s decision was foolish and his lame, rather inept sense of humour was cringe-worthy.”