Timbaland sued by Australian promoter

An Australian promoter is suing hitmaker Timbaland for allegedly backing out of a series of gigs Down Under.

Bosses at Showtime claim they paid Timbaland $500,000 up front when he agreed to play the gigs in 2008, but then he postponed the shows a month before they were due to take place, according to the lawsuit.

They allege Timbaland then booked a series of shows in Finland on the same dates as his proposed rescheduled tour, but still called for his remaining $500,000, which they refused to pay.

Showtime is now suing to get back the money they did pay him, plus damages, reports TMZ.com.