Bob Geldof has said that Band Aid's critics can "f*** off" and told William Pooley, the Ebola survivor who spoke out against the single, that he needs to relax.
Pooley, a nurse, contracted the disease while working in Sierra Leone and has since recovered. This week he criticised the record, saying it implied Africans don't know it is Christmas.
"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 a bit much," Pooley told Radio Times.
On hearing his comment, Geldof said: "Please. It's a pop song. Relax."
Others to criticise the track include UK songwriter Emeli Sande, who sang on the new release Band Aid 30 but later said the lyrics needed to change.
Geldof responded: "It's not a doctoral thesis. They can f*** off.
"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."
Geldof said he was "thrilled" by the backlash against the record. "I came along in 1976 and we were part of the punk thing. I love disruption. When it's politically focused, it's very powerful."
Geldof was speaking to promote sales of this year's Do They Know It's Christmas? CD, which reached shops in the UK this week.
"Basically, you're getting 30 years of pop history," he said.
He encouraged people to buy the CD instead of just downloading the album.
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