AceShowbiz - Bob Geldof, co-founder of Band Aid, has dismissed criticism from Ed Sheeran over the upcoming 40th anniversary re-release of their holiday hit, "Do They Know It's Christmas?"

Geldof, 73, told The Sunday Times that the song has raised millions for charity and questioned why they should stop aiding starving children because of "an abstract wealthy-world argument." Sheeran, 33, had expressed reservations on Instagram, stating he would have declined to participate if asked.

The disagreement stems from Geldof's decision to incorporate vocals from multiple previous versions of the song, including Sheeran's from 2014. Sheeran argued that his "understanding of the narrative" associated with the song has changed.

Geldof defended the song's impact, highlighting that half of the world's 600 million hungry people live in Africa and that Band Aid Charitable Trust has raised over $170 million.

"This little pop song has kept millions of people alive," Geldof said. "Why would Band Aid scrap feeding thousands of children dependent on us for a meal?"

Sheeran also shared a post by Fuse ODG, a Ghanaian-British musician who has criticized Band Aid's approach, arguing it perpetuates damaging stereotypes and fails to invest in Africa's self-sufficiency.

Midge Ure, Geldof's co-writer on the song, defended their efforts, saying, "There are many keyboard warriors out there, and in the time it takes them to write a scathing remark, some child has died. They talk while we actually do something."

The new version of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" will be released on November 25 and will feature vocals from various past iterations, including Bono on three occasions.