Ben & Jerry’s Accuses Unilever of Firing CEO Over Political Posts

Ben & Jerry’s has accused its parent company, Unilever, of breaching their merger agreement by removing the ice cream brand’s CEO without board approval. The company claims that CEO David Stever was ousted due to Ben & Jerry’s progressive political stances, marking the latest chapter in a long-running dispute between the two companies.

In an amended complaint filed Tuesday in New York, Ben & Jerry’s lawyers stated that the company’s 2000 merger agreement included protections preventing Unilever from unilaterally removing its CEO. However, they claim Unilever violated this agreement by dismissing Stever due to his commitment to the brand’s social mission and values, rather than any performance-related concerns.

Unilever responded in a statement, saying that decisions regarding Ben & Jerry’s CEO are made after good faith consultation with the brand’s independent board. The company also expressed disappointment that details of an employee’s career conversation had been made public.

This legal battle follows Unilever’s March 2024 announcement that it planned to sell Ben & Jerry’s and other ice cream brands, though a deal has yet to be finalised.

The lawsuit is part of an ongoing clash over Ben & Jerry’s social media activity. In January, the brand alleged that Unilever had blocked a post referencing abortion rights, climate change, and universal healthcare, simply because it mentioned President Donald Trump.

In recent weeks, Ben & Jerry’s claims Unilever blocked additional posts, including one about Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian refugee whose green card was revoked over his participation in protests at Columbia University. The post, which was meant to include a link to an ACLU petition for his release, was reportedly censored without explanation.

Another post, intended to celebrate Black History Month in February, was also allegedly prevented from being published.

Ben & Jerry’s initial lawsuit, filed in November 2024, claimed that Unilever attempted to silence the company’s statements on Palestinian refugees and efforts to end U.S. military aid to Israel. It further alleged that Unilever threatened to dissolve the brand’s independent board and sue its members after they planned to issue a statement calling for peace and a ceasefire.

Stever, who began his career at Ben & Jerry’s in 1988 as a tour guide, was appointed CEO in May 2023. His current position within the company remains unclear. Meanwhile, Unilever itself is undergoing a leadership transition, with its CEO stepping down just weeks ago after a short tenure in the role.
Source: CNN