Band Aid founder Bob Geldof shrugged off Ed Sheeran’s comments about the upcoming remix of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, which features the singer’s vocals from the 2014 version of the song he participated in. In response to Sheeran’s explanation that he “would have respectfully declined” inclusion if asked, Geldof told The Sunday Times, “This little pop song has kept millions of people alive.”
As reported by The Guardian, on Nov. 18, Sheeran said via his Instagram Story that he would have preferred to have been left out of the new mix. “My approval wasn’t sought on this new Band Aid 40 release, and had I had the choice, I would have respectfully declined the use of my vocals.