Jennifer Lopez had stern message for photographer after making rare appearance with her child Emme

Jennifer Lopez went full on 'mama bear' on a photographer after they allegedly disrespected her child.

The singer was seen attending the Broadway premiere of Othello at the weekend, where she introduced a special date.

The Monster In Law actress showed off her 17-year-old, Emme, who she shares with ex-husband Marc Anthony.

Now, many people have not really been privy to JLo’s two children, and they have been mostly kept away from the spotlight. But now that Emme has made their debut to Hollywood and on a red carpet, all eyes were on the pair.

However, that wasn’t such a good thing, as a paparazzi was about to find out.

During Sunday’s black tie event, a source told Page Six that the singer was in full ‘mama bear’ mode when a photographer crowded them as they were exiting the Ethel Barrymore Theater.

The person explained that they saw a ‘huge paparazzi camera’ come in between JLo and Emme, and the lens was then shoved in the teenager’s face. That’s when the ‘mama bear’ came out in full force.

“[Lopez] yelled at the guy. She went mama bear,” the source told the publication.

Her stern words are something that many parents can get behind, as kids are usually well known to be off limits to the pap’s behaviours. But maybe this one didn’t get the memo?

Anyway, it appears that despite the intrusion, they ended up having a great time, as JLo went on to post a little Instagram snap of the pair, captioned: “Othello premiere with the best date ever.”

Tyla contacted Jennifer Lopez's representatives for comment.

The opening night of Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal's new revival of Othello saw the mother-child duo co-ordinating their glitter outfits and strike a post on the carpet.

As the mom of her 17-year-old twins - Maximilian ‘Max’ David Muniz and Emme, who she welcomed with Anthony in February 2008 - JLo has shown nothing but pride.

“It’s unconditional love,” she told PEOPLE in a past interview. “I know everybody feels this way about their kids, but I just feel like they’re super special. I can’t wait to see what they do.”

When she celebrated her twins’ 17th birthday, she posted a cute video tribute on Instagram showing photos and videos of the family as the kids grew up.

"Seventeen. I love you beyond forever,” Lopez captioned the post.

However, she admitted she struggled with parenting after her divorce from the children’s father.

Last year, the star spoke to Entertainment Weekly about her film Unstoppable, where she plays champion Anthony Robles' mother Judy Robles.

JLo shared how her experience as a single parent influenced how she looked at the role.

"I've been a single mom at times in my life, and [I've asked], 'Am I enough for them?'" she said. "And the truth is, all you need is really one good parent to love you."

"You hear it in Anthony's voice, and look what he's been able to accomplish," she added of the wrestler. "That's what the movie gave me: You are enough."