Geldof has two words for critics of Band Aid 30

Bob Geldof has told Band Aid’s critics to“fuck off” and advised William Pooley, an ebola survivor who spoke out against the single, that he needs to relax.

The British nurse described the new Band Aid charity single as “cringeworthy”.

On hearing his comment, Geldof said: “Please. It’s a pop song. Relax.”

Pooley went back to work at an isolation unit in Sierra Leone in West Africa, despite having been airlifted to London after catching the disease.

He urged people who want to help fight ebola to donate money to charities working with patients directly.

“On the way into work I heard the first half of it. It’s definitely being talked about here among my colleagues,” he told Radio Times magazine.

“But stuff about ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ — it’s just like, actually people live normal lives here and do normal things.

“It’s Africa, not another planet. That sort of cultural ignorance is a bit cringeworthy. There’s a lyric about ‘death in every tear’. It’s just a bit much.”

Geldof responded: “It’s a pop song, it’s not a doctoral thesis. They can fuck off.”

He added: “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 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.”

Polley’s comments come after pop star Emeli Sande, who featured in Band Aid 30, said the song needed rewriting.

She apologised “if the lyrics of the song have caused offence” and said that new lyrics she and African artist Angelique Kidjo recorded did not make the final version.