Sir Bob Geldof has issued a special message to everyone who criticised the lyrics of the new Band Aid 30 single – “fuck off”.
The new version of Do They Know It’s Christmas was released last month with proceeds going towards helping the Ebola crisis in Africa and raised £1m in just five minutes.
But it came under fire after complaints the lyrics were "patronising" and "disrespecting" towards Africa.
Gather round children...Sir Bob Geldof has a message for us all
A British nurse who survived Ebola described the single as “cringeworthy” and “culturally ignorant”.
In an interview with Radio Times, William Pooley said: “It’s Africa, not another planet. That sort of cultural ignorance is cringeworthy. There’s a lyric about ‘death in every tear’. It’s a bit much.”
Sir Bob has replied to Pooley, via the Telegraph, saying: “Please. It’s a pop song. Relax.”
The singer/songwriter who contributed vocals to the new single claimed that when she recorded her lines she included new, updated lyrics to the song to make it more appropriate, but that they were ultimately left on the cutting room floor.
Sir Bob added: “It’s a pop song, not a doctoral thesis. They can fuck off.
“They’re more than welcome to be offended by me. I couldn’t give a toss. Seriously, I’m the wrong guy.
“The reality behind the pop song – Christmassy, corny, whatever you think about it – the reality it stark.
“If it’s a pop song that can help ease the pain, the agony, if they can die with a little more dignity then yea, I’m there. It’s pretty simple.”
Singer Lily Allen refused to take part in the “smug” project, telling the Sun: “It’s difficult to give an explanation why I didn’t do it without sounding like a complete c***.
“I prefer to do my charitable bit by donating actual money and not being lumped in with a bunch of people like that. It’s like the ‘Success Club’ and I’m not really in that club. I don’t think I’m above it all - I’m way below it.”