Lorde lashes out at paparazzi after airport ambush

Pop star Lorde has hit out at the paparazzi in her native New Zealand after she and her family were pushed and shoved upon returning from Los Angeles following her double win at the Grammy Awards.

The Royals hitmaker became swarmed by photographers after touching down at an airport Down Under on Tuesday (28Jan14), but her arrival turned into a scary ordeal as the mostly-male snappers became aggressive while trying to take her picture.

Taking to her Twitter.com blog to vent her frustration, Lorde wrote, "nz (New Zealand) media almost pushed over myself and my family at the airport this morning in order to get their shots. bit of a sad welcome if i'm honest...

"I understand that people of note are supposedly fair game for everyone to photograph and film but that doesn't make it acceptable... I'm beginning to get used to my image as a public commodity, and the fact that I'm getting used to it frightens me."

She added, "There is a difference between attn (attention) from fans, which i love, and the constant, often lecherous gaze that i'm subjected to in this industry.

"I know that success comes with a price tag. it just sucks when you see that in your tiny home country where you previously felt safe (sic)."

Lorde's Twitter rant about the media occurred a day before she took out a full-page ad in the New Zealand Herald, featuring a handwritten note she had written to thank her fans for their unwavering support.