“Over the course of 40 years, hundreds of thousands of people — probably millions — are alive because of a little pop song,” Geldof said on CNN

Bob Geldof and Ed Sheeran

Bob Geldof in 2020; Ed Sheeran in 2024. Photo: Jens Kalaene/picture alliance via Getty; Lionel Hahn/Getty

Bob Geldof is doubling down on his support of the 40th anniversary re-recording of the classic charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”

On Tuesday, Nov. 26 during an appearance on CNN This Morning, the Band Aid founder, 73, told anchor Kasie Hunt that he still stands by Band Aid’s anniversary release of the song, despite controversy surrounding its lyrics that saw renewed attention thanks to Ed Sheeran.

“I mean, half the virtue of this record — maybe more than half is that as opinions and sensibilities and knowledge change, often as a result of this record, so does the debate. So does the argument,” the charity supergroup founder said. “And that’s part of the political process of this. So right now, the debate on Africa and Britain, and hopefully the United States, will be elevated.”

Geldof went on to call it “very hard” to raise the argument in the current political climate.

“So this record then and its oppositionists bring that debate up to a level. And genuinely — seriously, I believe that’s as important a part of this because it allows us then to have a cultural dialogue which again makes politicians answerable to all those points,” he said.

Bob Geldof at a press event.

Bob Geldof in 2020.Jens Kalaene/picture alliance via Getty

Geldolf vowed that Band Aid’s work would continue. “Over the course of 40 years, hundreds of thousands of people — probably millions — are alive because of a little pop song,” he said. “That is a ridiculous way to run the world, and it should stop. But when it doesn’t we will keep getting the greatest artists of our time, putting them together, and doing this little song.”

Geldof wrote “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” in 1984 with Midge Ure about the famine in Ethiopia in an efforts to raise funds and awareness. He formed Band Aid with British and Irish musicians and has since re-recorded the song in 1989, 2004 and 2014.

The track raised $10.1 million in relief in the first year of its release, according to Deadline. Over time, however, the song has been slammed for being “racist and patronizing African stereotypes.”

Sheeran, who was part of the 30th anniversary release, had claimed on Nov. 17 that his vocals were being used on the 40th anniversary release of the song without his permission.

“My approval wasn’t sought on this new Band Aid 40 release,” he wrote on his Instagram Stories, sharing Ghanian-English Afrobeat musician Fuse ODG’s Stories. “Had I had the choice I would have respectfully declined the use of my vocals.”

Sheeran continued: “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.”

Fuse ODG, 35, who declined to participate in the 2014 recording of the song, claimed that the song pushed racist stereotypes “that stifle Africa’s economic growth, tourism, and investment, ultimately costing the continent trillions and destroying its dignity, pride and identity.”

Ed Sheeran attends the 66th GRAMMY Awards

Ed Sheeran in 2024.Lionel Hahn/Getty

In response to Fuse ODG, Geldof told CNN that he travels throughout Africa and Europe to lobby for “exactly what Fuse is saying.” “And then subsequently in the middle of the crash in 2008 — because Africa was not getting any investment — I raised an investment fund of $200 million,” Geldof added. “I wanted $800 million but because of the crash I couldn’t get any more.”

He then elaborated on the African investment partners and managers set up, noting that they at one point employed 110,000 workers in eight countries. These jobs helped 140,000 dependents, he said.

“You inject the oil of cash into an economy and people thrive,” he continued. “We brought in workers’ rights, trade unions’ rights. We structured and formulized accountability and general financial accounting. So I am 100 percent with the argument.”

Geldof also did note on CNN that he and Sheeran, 33, spoke and said that despite their disagreements, they “work[ed] it out.”

“Ed is a really clever man. He’s a really good bloke. He’s a great artist. I’ve put in the call. We’ve had a conversation,” he said. “We may disagree, we may agree, but we work it out. And that’s exactly what this should be.”