Tuesday 6th August 2013 by Michael Baggs | Photos by WENN.com

UK star Ed Sheeran has slammed the homophobic Westboro Baptist Church in the US after his gig with Taylor Swift in Kansas was picketed by congregation members.

Sheeran is currently supporting American superstar Taylor Swift on tour, and the church recently issued a statement dubbing the 'Trouble' singer the 'whorish face of doomed America' and claiming she is the 'poster child for the young whores of doomed America'.

The duo have become firm friends in recent years, after Sheeran worked on Swift's huge hit album, 22, and duetted with her on her 'Everything Has Changed' single.

Angered at the statement and the action outside the Kansas venue, Sheeran wrote on Twitter: "To the people picketing outside the arena. Keep your homophobic views to yourself, it's 2013."

See Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift's 'Everything Has Changed' duet below

Previous artists to have endured attacks from the infamous church include Lady Gaga and Foo Fighters. In 2011, Dave Grohl hit out at the church members after their gig in Kansas was picketed.

During the gig, Grohl praised America as the “land of the free, home of the brave.”

He continued: “I don’t care if you’re black or white or purple or green. Whether you’re Pennsylvanian or Transylvanian, Lady Gaga or Lady Antebellum.

“Men lovin’ women and women lovin’ men, and men lovin’ men and women lovin’ women, you all know we like to watch that. God bless America ya’ll.”

Below: Ed Sheeran joins The Offspring and more at Sunfest 2013