One Direction's Harry Styles has hit back at criticism from Westboro Baptist Church, claiming "God loves us all".

The American unaffiliated Baptist church is known for its extreme ideologies, especially those against gay people.

Earlier this week, the group revealed their plans to protest outside One Direction's Kansas City show last night (July 19).

Although their unwanted presence was at the chart-topping band's gig on Friday, Styles thanked them for coming.

He wrote on Twitter: "Despite the company outside, I believe in equal rights for everyone. I think God loves all. Thanks for coming to the show though (sic)."

A message on the Westboro Baptist Church website this week read: “WBC will picket this perverted pop boy band from the UK who claim to be the world's #1 band. Indeed, they are a perfect representation of this filthy world and the sin-chasing, f*g-enabling, God-hating, Christ-rejecting UK who has banned WBC from preaching within her borders."

The statement continued: “These freaks and their fans think it's funny for these five perverts to grab each other's a**es on stage. They glamourise sin and make a mock of God's standards."

Styles also took to the social networking site to thank fans for their continued support.

He gushed: "Kansas City you were amazing. Thanks for having us .x (sic)."