Este Haim calls out sexist bass face memes: 'A veiled way of saying you’re ugly'

Haim says male performers wouldn't receive the same remarks

Este Haim performs with her band Haim at Radio City Music Hall on 26 January 2018 in New York City. (Steven Ferdman/Getty Images)

Este Haim has denounced online jokes about her facial expressions as sexist, saying a male performer wouldn’t be subjected to the same comments.

The bassist and singer, who forms the Californian pop-rock trio Haim with her sisters Danielle and Alana, discussed sexism in the music industry with NME.

Haim is particularly expressive when she performs onstage, which has led to photos of some of her live shows being turned into memes on social media.

The singer and musician has grown tired of the jokes and of the heightened attention paid to her physical appearance during gigs.

“That’s like a veiled way of saying you’re ugly or something,” she told NME.

She added: “They wouldn’t say it to a dude, who’s feeling the music when he’s playing. Like, ‘You look ugly when you play.’

“You’d never say it to John Mayer when he’s like ‘bleugh’ when he’s playing, you know what I mean?”

Haim said she often receives backhanded compliments along the lines of “I love that you don’t care what you look like when you play. I love that you don’t care what your face looks like when you play. I love that about you.”

“God, thank you SO MUCH”, she responded sarcastically. “Like, F***. YOU.”

The trio are currently preparing for their third album release.

Their second and most recent album, Something To Tell You, came out in 2017.