Justin Bieber being sued for defamation

Singer Justin Bieber is being sued by Canadian promoters. Photo / Getty Images

Justin Bieber has been slapped with a defamation lawsuit from Canadian promoters he criticised online.

The pop superstar signed a deal with bosses at Team Productions last year to make an appearance at Beachclub in Montreal.

Bieber was expected to perform and party with fans in exchange for a US$250,000 (NZ$367,282).

Plaintiffs claim they paid the singer the agreed amount and promised to hand over another US$175,000 just before the event, as long as the Baby hitmaker promoted the club gig on his social media accounts.

However, Team Productions officials claim Bieber did not hold up his end of the deal, and then threatened to axe the appearance if he didn't receive the remaining funds beforehand, report TMZ.

According to TMZ, Team Productions requested a discount, citing Bieber's lack of online promotion, and although negotiations began, the singer pulled the plug on the event on the morning of the gig.

Bieber then took to Twitter to apologise to fans and call out the party promoters, blaming their lack of professionalism for the cancellation.

Team Productions executives claim Bieber's comment has cost them big business and now they're suing for at least US$650,000 in damages.

News of the lawsuit emerged hours after Bieber had to say sorry to fans for excluding Argentina from his Purpose World Tour.

Bieber claimed he's been banned from performing in the country. He didn't provide a specific reason for the ruling, but the decision may link back to a previous show the singer put on in Buenos Aires in 2013, during which he kicked the national flag off the stage.

At the time, government officials accused the star of desecrating the flag, and during the same visit, a warrant for the 22-year-old's arrest was issued after a photographer claimed he was attacked by the pop star's bodyguards outside a nightclub.

The arrest warrant was revoked but the charges were not officially dismissed, according to The Associated Press.

- WENN