Nicole Richie’s boyfriend doubles as her personal bodyguard — quick to get violent with anyone who stands in her way.

A heated Joel Madden bulldozed his way through a crowd of paparazzi as he and Nicole Richie tried to sneak out the back door of Mr. Chow Saturday night, sending photogs flying. As Madden approached his waiting ride, the Good Charlotte frontman finally lost his patience and rocked one unlucky photog with an openhanded shot to the chest. As the photog stumbled backwards, Madden and Richie quickly got into the car, and sped off into the night.