Bob Geldof

The Band Aid 40 anniversary remix revived criticism of African stereotypes. Ed Sheeran indicated that he would have preferred his earlier vocals not to have been reused given how his views had evolved, and Fuse ODG renewed his criticism of the narrative produced by the song.

State of the evidence

new remix and public criticism documented

Legal status — source text

no legal proceedings

Attribution

responsibility as the project's longstanding promoter and defender

A Guardian investigation/commentary highlighted that 8 Miles, a private equity fund associated with Geldof and intended to invest in Africa, routed its investments through Mauritius. The arrangement was legal but criticised as an illustration of tax treaties that could reduce African countries' revenues.

State of the evidence

fund structure and tax criticism documented

Legal status — source text

no illegality established in the source reviewed

Attribution

responsibility as co-founder/public figure associated with the fund; no attribution of illegal tax evasion

Geldof returned his Freedom of Dublin because he refused to share the honour with Aung San Suu Kyi, whom he accused of moral complicity in the persecution of the Rohingya. The decision sparked a city council debate; Suu Kyi was subsequently stripped of the honour, and Geldof asked to be removed from the register as well.

State of the evidence

return of the honour, council debate and final removal documented

Legal status — source text

no legal proceedings

Attribution

personal responsibility for his public protest and descriptions

Geldof led a pro-Remain flotilla confronting fishing boats politically led by Nigel Farage. He called Farage a 'fraud', made a V-sign and used a powerful sound system; fishermen and even some Remain campaigners considered the scene contemptuous towards struggling workers.

State of the evidence

counter-flotilla, exchanges of insults and fishermen's reactions documented

Legal status — source text

no legal proceedings

Attribution

personal responsibility for the counter-demonstration and his remarks

The 2014 version of 'Do They Know It's Christmas?', intended to fund the fight against Ebola, was accused of portraying West Africa and the continent negatively and paternalistically. Fuse ODG refused to participate after objecting to the lyrics and imagery.

State of the evidence

campaign, criticism by African artists and public response documented

Legal status — source text

no legal proceedings

Attribution

responsibility as co-organiser and original creator of the project

Geldof strongly challenged a BBC report on the diversion of aid in Ethiopia. The BBC subsequently apologised and acknowledged that the programme could have wrongly given the impression that Band Aid funds had been diverted to purchase weapons.

State of the evidence

report, complaint and BBC apology documented

Legal status — source text

no wrongdoing by Geldof established; the BBC acknowledged that its programme had created a misleading impression concerning Band Aid

Attribution

person publicly implicated by the report and subsequently benefiting from the correction; no responsibility for diversion of aid established

The initial Live 8 line-ups were dominated by Western stars, with very few African artists, prompting accusations of paternalism and inconsistency with an event devoted to Africa. A separate African concert was subsequently added.

State of the evidence

line-ups and public criticism documented

Legal status — source text

no legal proceedings

Attribution

responsibility as organiser and spokesperson for Live 8

After the Gleneagles G8 summit, Geldof gave very high ratings to aid and debt relief commitments and described certain criticism as a 'disgrace'. Several NGOs and Make Poverty History activists, by contrast, considered the compromise inadequate, particularly on trade and actual resources.

State of the evidence

Geldof's statements and NGO criticism documented

Legal status — source text

no legal proceedings

Attribution

personal responsibility for his public assessment of the summit