Lily Allen declares Ebola charity single 'a bit smug'

LONDON, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Lily Allen wasn't interested in contributing to Band Aid 30 single "Do They Know It's Christmas?"

The 29-year-old singer admitted as much in an interview with the Mail on Sunday's Event magazine. Allen was invited to join One Direction, Rita Ora, Ed Sheeran and more on the charity track, but refused the offer because she found the project self-satisfied.

"It's difficult to explain why I didn't do it without sounding like a complete [expletive]," she related. "I prefer to do my charitable bit by donating actual money and not being lumped in with a bunch of people like that. It's like the success club and I'm not really in that club. I don't think I'm above it all -- I'm way below it. But there's something a bit smug about it."

Band Aid 30 is the latest incarnation of charity supergroup Band Aid, which previously released versions of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 1984, 1989 and 2004. All proceeds from the 2014 recording will go toward battling Ebola in West Africa.

Allen released her third studio album, Sheezus, in May. The record debuted at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart, and includes the singles "Hard Out Here," "Air Balloon" and "Our Time." The title is a nod to Kanye West's sixth studio album, Yeezus.