Ed Sheeran, Sir Bob Geldof and the Band Aid controversy — everything we know so far

The Band Aid play rages connected arsenic Sir Bob Geldof has reportedly called Ed Sheeran aft backlash implicit ‘damaging stereotypes’ successful Christmas hit.

The Boomtown Rats icon has defended the charity single, which helium primitively wrote successful 1984 to rise wealth during the famine successful Ethiopia.

This twelvemonth Band Aid has released a 40th day re-recording of Do They Know It’s Christmas? which includes re-used vocals from artists similar Sting, Bono, and the Shape of You hitmaker.

However, soon aft the azygous dropped, Fuse ODG criticised it for perpetuating stereotypes astir Africa and making him privation to ‘disassociate’ from his roots.

This received wider attraction erstwhile Ed shared the clip connected his social media on with his connection that helium had not been contacted astir the 40 Remix.

With Sir Bob calling up Ed and the Band Aid song tanking successful the charts, here’s everything we cognize astir the controversy.

What is Band Aid?

Band Aid is simply a supergroup corporate of artists, primitively assembled successful 1984 by Sir Bob and Midge Ure.

Phil Collins, Paul Weller, Spandau Ballet, and Boy George joined for the archetypal mentation of Do They Know It’s Christmas? raising £8 million for Ethiopia.

The opus went consecutive to fig 1 upon its merchandise connected December 7, becoming the fastest-selling azygous of each clip until Elton John’s Candle successful the Wind.

A twelvemonth later, the performance Live Aid was hosted with the purpose of raising much wealth for the famine, followed by Band Aid II successful 1989.

Band Aid 20’s mentation was released successful 2004 to honour the 20th anniversary, which included the likes of Natasha Bedingfield, The Darkness’ Justin Hawkins, Busted, and Chris Martin.

Do They Know It’s Christmas erstwhile again reached fig one, staying determination for 4 weeks and becoming the biggest selling grounds of the year.

Then 10 years aboriginal came Band Aid 30, with Chris Martin returning for a 2nd clip and Bono for a 3rd clip to sing connected the track.

This twelvemonth besides featured Clean Bandit, Paloma Faith, One Direction, Sinéad O’Connor, Rita Ora, Sam Smith, and — of people — Ed Sheeran.

Each re-release day opus donates each profits to a chosen cause, specified arsenic warring Ebola successful 2014.

Band Aid 40 has been released utilizing a premix of vocal performances from the past versions, alternatively than recruiting caller artists.

What has Ed Sheeran said astir Band Aid?

After the merchandise of Band Aid 40, Ed said his ‘approval had not been sought’ to reuse his vocals successful this caller version.

‘Had I had the prime I would person respectfully declined the usage of my vocals,’ helium wrote connected Instagram stories.

The Lego House hitmaker shared a video from Fuse ODG, successful which the Ghanaian-British instrumentalist slammed the euphony for ‘dehumanising’ radical from Africa.

‘A decennary connected and my knowing of the communicative associated with this has changed, eloquently explained by Fuse ODG,’ Ed continued.

‘This is conscionable my idiosyncratic stance. I’m hoping it’s a forward-looking one. Love to all.’

What did Fuse ODG accidental astir Band Aid?

Before Ed’s post, Fuse ODG wrote a lengthy connection connected his Instagram stories and called retired the Christmas hit.

‘Ten years ago, I refused to enactment successful Band Aid because I recognised the harm initiatives similar it inflict connected Africa,’ the Dangerous Love hitmaker said.

‘While they whitethorn make sympathy and donations, they perpetuate damaging stereotypes that stifle Africa’s economical growth, tourism and investment, yet costing the continent trillions and destroying its dignity, pridefulness and identity.

‘By showcasing dehumanising imagery, these initiatives substance pity alternatively than concern discouraging meaningful engagement.’

He added successful the aftermath of Band Aid 40 helium was sharing his thoughts to ‘reclaim the narrative, empowering Africans to archer their ain stories, redefine their identity, and presumption Africa arsenic a thriving hub for concern and tourism.’

Fuse ODG concluded: ‘Today, the diaspora drives the largest travel of funds backmost into the continent, not Band Aid oregon overseas assistance proving that Africa’s solutions and advancement lies successful its ain hands.’

In a treatment with the BBC, the Afro-beats prima shared helium wanted to ‘disassociate’ himself from his practice aft seeing the ’disrespectful’ images utilized successful the euphony video.

What has Sir Bob Geldof said astir the controversy?

Sir Bob has said helium phoned Ed to effort and robust retired the situation, though helium has not mentioned whether oregon not helium contacted Fuse ODG too.

While connected Lorraine, helium shared: ‘I’ve enactment successful the telephone – he’s a truly beauteous man, he’s an intelligent guy, he’s a large creator and we’ll person a chat and either hold oregon disagree but we speech astir it.

‘The statement indispensable beryllium made and it means we tin reason our constituent of presumption adjacent much powerfully – truthful that’s wherever I’m astatine with this.’

This mirrors what helium shared connected The One Show, wherever the I Don’t Like Mondays vocalist explained the Christmas classic’s fiscal influence, having raised wealth to donate to charities astir the globe to ‘massively alteration the structures of the world’.

‘That’s what it is to me,’ said the 73-year-old singer. ‘Other radical person a antithetic sentiment of it due to the fact that implicit 40 years, time, opinions, sensibilities change.

‘That’s wherefore it’s almighty due to the fact that it did each the things I said but it inactive erstwhile it comes retired it raises the statement and the statement is fantastic, and the statement lone happens due to the fact that of this tiny popular song.

‘Without it, that statement doesn’t travel anyplace truthful present it’s retired successful the nationalist it’s being talked astir and that gives america immense governmental access. Everything astir this opus is astonishing and I emotion and thrive by radical saying …’

Responding to the comments successful a chat with The Times, Sir Bob added: ‘This small popular opus has kept millions of radical alive.

‘Why would Band Aid scrap feeding thousands of children babelike connected america for a meal? Why not support doing that? Because of an abstract wealthy-world argument, careless of its legitimacy?

‘No abstract theory, careless of however sincerely held, should impede oregon distract from that hideous, factual real-world reality.’

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