Ed Sheeran and Ellie Goulding Hold Hands at the MTV VMAs—New Couple Alert?

British singers get cozy while sitting next to each other at the music awards shindig at Brooklyn's Barclays Center

By Alexis L. Loinaz Aug 26, 2013 12:55 PMTags
Ellie Goulding, Ed SheeranTwitter

People were talking about the MTV Video Music Awards, all right—and not just about the night's big winners.

British rockers Ed Sheeran and Ellie Goulding set the Twitterverse afire when they were seen sitting together and holding hands while watching the show Sunday night at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.

The sweet moment quickly went viral as fans began speculating whether the two were more than just friends.

Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage

The 26-year-old Goulding, however, seemed far from amused by the chatter: Immediately afterward, she took to Twitter to set the record straight.

"I love that holding hands with my friends means we're an item," she wrote. "In that case I am in many relationships. Lover not a hater. #whatthef*ck"

Goulding's rep also told E! News: "They are just friends."

Sheeran isn't the only pal of Goulding's who's piqued fans' interest. Media reports recently surfaced claiming that she was spotted kissing One Direction boy bander Niall Horan.

On Aug. 18, the two reportedly watched Kings of Leon perform at the V Festival in Essex, England, and at one point, Horan supposedly leaned in for a kiss.

The duo were purportedly flanked by bodyguards, who helped shield the stars from onlookers' prying eyes.

A source tells E! News, though, that there is "no truth" to the romance rumors and that Goulding is still with her boyfriend, War Horse actor Jeremy Irvine.

"She and Niall are just friends," the source added.

Sheeran, for his part, seemed happy to put an eventful evening at the VMAs behind him, regardless of the chatter: Early Monday morning, he simply tweeted, "Bed."