Ed Sheeran slams Band Aid 40 for using his vocals on new charity single without his permission and reveals why he would NOT have agreed

Ed Sheeran has claimed he wasn’t asked permission from Band Aid 40 organisers to use his vocals on the a new version of the charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas?

The musician, 33, originally featured on the 2014 version of the track – spearheaded by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure – alongside the likes of Sting and Harry Styles which aimed to raise money for the Ebola relief efforts.

However amid the upcoming release of the 2024 Ultimate Mix of the song to celebrate its 40th anniversary, Ed has told how he would have denied permission to add his voice to the song had he’d been asked.

Taking to his Instagram stories on Sunday, the Shape Of You hitmaker re-shared a message from Ghanaian-British musician Fuse ODG, who has been vocal in his criticism of the charity single claiming it ‘dehumanises Africans and destroys our pride and identity in the name of ‘charity’.’

Ed wrote: ‘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.

‘A decade on and my understanding of the narrative associated with this has changed, eloquently explained by @fuseodg. This is just my personal stance, I’m hoping it’s a forward-looking one. Love to all x.’

Ed Sheeran has claimed he wasn’t asked permission from Band Aid 40 organisers to use his vocals on the a new version of the charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas?

The musician, 33, originally featured on the 2014 version of the track – spearheaded by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure [pictured in 2004] – alongside the likes of Sting and Harry Styles which aimed to raise money for the Ebola relief efforts

Ed’s words are in support of rapper Fuse ODG’s strong stance on the charity song – fronted by Bob Geldof – which comes a decade after he ‘refused’ to be part of the Band Aid 30 song. 

Fuse ODG, who worked with Ed on the track Boa Me, posted a statement claiming the famous song ‘perpetuates damaging stereotypes’.

The artist, who is releasing his own track We Know It’s Christmas, penned: ‘Ten years ago, I refused to participate in Band Aid because I recognised the harm initiatives like it inflict on Africa.

‘While they may generate sympathy and donations, they perpetuate damaging stereotypes that stifle Africa’s economic growth, tourism and investment, ultimately costing the continent trillions and destroying its dignity, pride and identity.

‘By showcasing dehumanising imagery, these initiatives fuel pity rather than partnership discouraging meaningful engagement.’

The artist went on to say that he’s making it his mission to ‘to reclaim the narrative, empowering Africans to tell their own stories, redefine their identity, and position Africa as a thriving hub for investment and tourism.’

He continued: ‘Today, the diaspora drives the largest flow of funds back into the continent, not Band Aid or foreign aid proving that Africa’s solutions and progress lies in its own hands.’ 

MailOnline have contacted Band Aid representatives for comment.

However amid the upcoming release of the 2024 Ultimate Mix of the song to celebrate its 40th anniversary, Ed has told how he would have denied permission to add his voice to the song had he’d been asked [Ed pictured heading to record Band Aid 30 in 2014]

Taking to his Instagram stories on Sunday, Ed re-shared a message from Ghanaian-British musician Fuse ODG, who has been vocal in his criticism of the charity single claiming it ‘dehumanises Africans and destroys our pride and identity in the name of ‘charity’’

Fuse ODG, who worked with Ed on the track Boa Me, posted a statement claiming the famous song ‘perpetuates damaging stereotypes’.

Earlier this year, Bob Geldof hit back at the ‘White Saviour complex’ narrative, branding the criticism ‘the greatest load of b****cks ever.’ 

He told Times Radio in February: ‘If there was a famine in Italy and someone reacts and they’re white, are they a white saviour? Are the only people allowed to react to an African famine Black?’

He went on: ‘This is a nonsensical, absolutely dismissive argument. It is. I think it’s rubbish.’

It was reported last month that Band Aid is set to return with a brand new version to mark the iconic charity track’s 40th Anniversary. 

To celebrate 40 years of the song that changed the world, the Do They Know It’s Christmas? 2024 Ultimate Mix is set to be released on 25th November, alongside a special video.

Do They Know It’s Christmas? has been recorded on three separate occasions, Band Aid (1984), Band Aid 20 (2004) and Band Aid 30 (2014), offering snapshots at some of music’s biggest stars, and how they’ve changed throughout the decades.

It has become one of the most iconic tracks in pop history, after being originally created by Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in a bid to raise funds for anti-famine efforts in Ethiopia.

To mark the occasion, producer Trevor Horn has taken the three recordings and, through extraordinary music production techniques, blended all the voices of those separate generations into one seamless track.

Band Aid is set to return with a brand new version to mark the iconic charity track’s 40th Anniversary (the stars of the original 1984 track are pictured)

Unveiled on 25th November, on Band Aid – 2024 Ultimate Mix will see a young Sting sing alongside a young Ed Sheeran, a young Boy George with a young Sam Smith, a young George Michael beside a young Harry Styles. 

The young Bono with an older Bono, Chris Martin with Guy Garvey, the Sugababes and Bananarama, Seal and Sinead O’Connor, Rita Ora and Robbie Williams, Kool and the Gang and Underworld. 

Other stars set to feature include Paul McCartney, Sting, John Taylor, Phil Collins, Roger Taylor, Paul Weller, Damon Albarn, Midge Ure, Johnny Greenwood, Gary Kemp and Justin Hawkins. 

The song will be unveiled on Monday November 25 with plays across UK breakfast time radio that morning and the video will then be unveiled that evening.

Band Aid’s first version offered a snapshot of some of the 1980s’ biggest stars, with names including George Michael, Boy George, Spandau Ballet and Banarama all featuring.

A second recording of the track was released in 2004, and featured Noughties favourites such as Busted, Robbie Williams, Daniel Bedingfield, Snow Patrol and The Sugababes.

In 2014, the last version of Band Aid was released, and despite featuring names such as One Direction, Olly Murs, Paloma Faith and Rita Ora, though lyrics were changed to reflect its effort to raise funds for the Ebola outbreak in Africa.

This move came under fire from some critics, with some saying the lyrics are outdated and perpetuate negative stereotypes of African countries which could harm their world image. 

To celebrate 40 years of the song that changed the world, the Do They Know It’s Christmas ? 2024 Ultimate Mix is set to be released on 25th November (the 2004 lineup is pictured)

The song was originally created by Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in a bid to raise funds for anti-famine efforts in Ethiopia, and went onto top the charts and raise millions

Harry Styles famously featured on the 2014 re-recording of Band Aid, alongside his One Direction bandmates

He was joined by Ed Sheeran, who joined a star-studded lineup on the most recent version of the song, which came under fire for changing its lyrics to reflect a focus on the Ebola outbreak

Blur frontman Damon Albarn also appeared to criticise the project, saying ‘really sometimes, giving money creates another problem’. 

He added: ‘Our perspective and our idea of what helps and our idea [of] what’s wrong and right are not necessarily shared by other cultures.’ 

Midge Ure, who co-wrote the charity single, revealed last year that Sir Bob Geldof originally claimed ‘It’s s***, but it’ll do’, when he played him the tune on a toy keyboard. 

The Boomtown Rats frontman also told Ure he thought it sounded like the theme tune to the 1960s British police TV drama Z-Cars.

Ure, 69, said the pair then went to work on the track that has gone on to raise more than £200million to help fight famine in Africa since its release in 1984.

The Ultravox singer told the How to be 60 podcast they had thought of ‘ridiculous’ ways to come up with money but settled on making music.

He added: ‘We spent two hours trying to think of ridiculous ways of trying to raise some money then finally succumbing to the fact we were rubbish at everything except maybe writing a song.

‘We [thought] if we wrote a Christmas song and got all of our friends involved, we could raise £100,000.

‘Then luckily I had just finished building my studio and sent Bob and cassette of this little thing I did on a toy keyboard. He said ‘it’s s***, it sounds like Z-Cars, but it’ll do’.

‘Then he came over to mine with a right-handed guitar upside down because he’s left-handed, hardly any strings on it, and started singing.

‘I said ‘OK, just leave me’, I recorded them on a cassette.. and I spent four days playing all the instruments and doing the arrangement for the song while he bludgeoned all our friends to come along and had a strength in name and fan base which was incredibly important.

‘Then of course the whole thing went mad.’