Joel Madden has blasted members of the paparazzi after his one-year-old daughter suffered a frightening encounter with the shutterbugs at a Miami airport over the weekend.

The Good Charlotte frontman was travelling through Miami International Airport with pregnant girlfriend Nicole Richie and their daughter Harlow in tow when the young family found themselves surrounded by more than a dozen snapping photos.

Writing on his Twitter account, Joel said: “These guys were sticking flashes in her face and bumping in to us and yelling. The most unneccessary force I’ve ever seen.”

“It was the first time I’ve ever seen my child scared. Not cool for any parent to see. At least in LA they gave us some space.”

The singer added that while his little girl had been “scared and confused” by the photographers behaving “like animals,” he “appreciated all the blogs and magazines that aren’t posting or buying” the photographs.

“And I do count my blessing. I know there are some people out there with ‘real’ problems. I never want to come off as complaining….just sensitive when it comes to my girls….”

Aww, poor little Harlow. She’s such a cutie.