Bob Geldof says Band Aid ‘kept millions of people alive’ as he addresses criticism

The song has been shunned in recent years

Many have shunned the lyrics of the song for its use of sweeping stereotypes and and generalisations applied to the entire continent of Africa.

Only recently Ed Sheeran came out and said he 'wishes he wasn't on the latest Band Aid Christmas single'.

This year a new version of the song will be released to mark the 40th anniversary of the original Band Aid. This will blend the vocals of the stars from both the 1984 and 2014 versions.

On the new record, which will premiered yesterday, Sheeran’s vocals are combined with those of Sting.

Sheeran said his “understanding of the narrative” associated with Band Aid and ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ has changed, citing a post from British-Ghanaian rapper Fuse ODG.

The Castle On The Hill singer wrote: “My approval wasn’t sought on this new Band Aid 40 release. Had I had the choice I would have respectfully declined the use of my vocals.”

“A decade on and my understanding of the narrative associated with this has changed, eloquently explained by @fuseodg.

“This is just my personal stance, I’m hoping it’s a forward-looking one. Love to all x.”

However, Geldof, who created the song by Band Aid, has said that he agrees to disagree with Sheeran.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, Geldof, 73, defended the song’s legacy of fundraising to support those in need.

“This little pop song has kept millions of people alive,” he said, listing the charity work the song has done.

“Why would Band Aid scrap feeding thousands of children dependent on us for a meal? Why not keep doing that? Because of an abstract wealthy-world argument, regardless of its legitimacy?”

He added: “No abstract theory regardless of how sincerely held should impede or distract from that hideous, concrete real-world reality. There are 600 million hungry people in the world, 300 million are in Africa. We wish it were other but it is not. We can help some of them. That’s what we will continue to do.”

Geldof has been vocal before about his charity work including Live Aid in 1985 and has hit back at claims he has a “white saviour complex”.

Speaking to Times Radio earlier this year, he responded that these claims were “the greatest load of b****cks ever”.

“If there was a famine in Italy and someone reacts and they’re white, are they a white saviour?” he asked. “Are the only people allowed to react to an African famine Black?”

He added: “This is a nonsensical, absolutely dismissive argument. It is. I think it’s rubbish.”