Ed Sheeran: 'Taylor Swift was swearing at Selena Gomez at MTV VMAs'

Ed Sheeran has tried to save his pal Taylor Swift after she landed in hot water for apparently cursing at One Direction during the MTV Video Music Awards, alleging the country star was actually swearing at Selena Gomez.

The Love Story hitmaker was caught on camera apparently saying "shut the f**k up" while her ex-boyfriend Harry Styles and his bandmates were onstage presenting the Best Pop Video prize at the New York City ceremony last month (25Aug13).

She incurred the wrath of One Direction's loyal fans for the rant, but British singer Sheeran, who is also close to the boy band, is adamant Swift was just messing around with her friend Gomez.

Speaking at a meet-and-greet session in Oregon, Sheeran said, "I know what she said though! She rung me straight afterward and she was like, 'I think I've messed up'."

The event's host asked him to explain and the singer-songwriter continued, "I can... Selena said to her, she said, 'I think Miley's going to win the award over me' and then Taylor said, 'Oh, shut the f**k up.' And that's what that was! So, yeah."

Gomez collected the prize for her Come & Get It promo.