Ben & Jerry’s has long clashed with Unilever over its activism|Michael Kappel|CC BY-NC 2.0
Ben & Jerry’s has accused its parent company, Unilever, of violating their merger agreement by illegally removing its CEO, David Stever, without board approval.
The ice cream brand claims Unilever ousted Stever over his support for the company’s progressive stances, including social justice and political matters.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in New York federal court, alleges Unilever acted unilaterally, disregarding the terms that protect Ben & Jerry’s independence. Stever started as a tour guide at Ben & Jerry’s in 1988 and became CEO in May 2023.
Dispute over social activism
Ben & Jerry’s has long clashed with Unilever over its activism. The brand alleges that the parent company repeatedly censored its posts, including blocking a January social media update about abortion, climate change and universal healthcare because it mentioned President Donald Trump.
The dispute began in 2021 when the brand stopped selling ice cream in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
More recently, the company says Unilever prevented it from posting a tribute on Black History Month in February and, at another time, blocked it from voicing support for Mahmoud Khalil.
The company, known for its progressive stance, has protested the Gaza war and supported police defunding.
Unilever responded on Wednesday, calling for a dismissal of Ben & Jerry’s lawsuit. It argued that while it supports the brand’s mission, recent advocacy efforts have become polarizing and risky.
It also denied banning Ben & Jerry’s from criticizing President Donald Trump but insisted on a balanced approach. The company plans to spin off its ice cream brands later this year.