Bob Geldof has told a nurse who contracted Ebola and survived that he can “relax” after he criticised his Band Aid 30 song. Bob also offered a nice "f**k off" to everyone else who has criticised the charity track. Sorry Emeli Sande.
William Pooley, who contracted the disease while working in Sierra Leone, told the Radio Times: “It’s Africa, not another planet. That sort of cultural ignorance is a bit cringe-worthy. There’s a lyric about ‘death in every tear’. It’s a bit much.”
The nurse added that the lyrics of the song imply Africans don't know about Christmas, to which Bob replied: “Please. It’s a pop song. Relax.”
Bob’s response to others who have criticised the song was:
“It’s a pop song, it’s not a doctoral thesis. They can f**k off.”
“They’re more than welcome to be offended by me. I couldn’t give a toss. Seriously, I’m the wrong guy,” he added.
“The reality behind the pop song – Christmassy, corny, whatever you think about it – the reality behind it is 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, yeah, I'm there. It's pretty simple."
Bob said he was “thrilled” by the backlash against the track and that coming from a punk era he “loves disruption”.
Do They Know It’s Christmas? was out this week and Asda already had pre-ordered 250,000 copies.
The 63-year-old told The Telegraph that Band Aid 30 has sold “close to a million” tracks so far and raised over £1.5 million.