Ben & Jerry's Sues Unilever After CEO Fired Over Social Media Posts.
Ben & Jerry’s has filed a legal complaint against its parent company, Unilever, over the removal of its CEO, David Stever. The ice cream maker claims that his dismissal was unlawful and retaliatory, stemming from Ben & Jerry's public political activism.
According to the company’s federal court filing, Unilever's decision to replace Stever violated their merger agreement, which requires consultation with Ben & Jerry’s advisory board before any such decision is made.
The Dispute Over CEO Removal
On March 3, 2025, Unilever informed Ben & Jerry’s board that they had removed Stever as CEO. Ben & Jerry’s argues that this decision was taken without following the proper procedures outlined in their merger agreement, which explicitly mandates consulting with the company’s advisory committee.
Ben & Jerry's sees the decision as retaliation for the company’s outspoken support of various social causes, including its stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In response, Unilever expressed disappointment that Ben & Jerry’s disclosed the matter publicly, emphasizing that they had attempted to follow the correct internal process. Unilever also stressed that the issue at hand involved a confidential conversation, one that Ben & Jerry’s should have handled privately.
Ben & Jerry’s Political Activism Sparks Tensions with Unilever
The tension between the two companies stems from their differing approaches to business and activism. Since Unilever acquired Ben & Jerry’s in 2000, the ice cream brand has maintained its commitment to progressive causes, including support for Palestinian rights and environmental issues.
View this post on Instagram
These positions have clashed with Unilever’s broader corporate strategy, particularly following Ben & Jerry’s decision in 2021 to cease selling ice cream in Israeli settlements.
The conflict reached a peak in 2022 when Unilever sold its Israeli business to a local company, which began selling Ben & Jerry's products under its Hebrew and Arabic names in Israel and the West Bank. This led to further tensions and calls from Ben & Jerry’s to assert its independence in making decisions related to social and political statements.
Ben & Jerry’s Lawsuit Against Unilever: A Battle for Activism
This lawsuit is not the first time Ben & Jerry’s has been at odds with Unilever over political activism. In 2021, Ben & Jerry's filed a lawsuit against Unilever for allegedly silencing its public statements in support of Palestinians amid the Gaza war.
Furthermore, the ice cream maker accused Unilever of preventing a social media post that highlighted key issues it planned to challenge during the second term of President Donald Trump, including minimum wages, climate change, and healthcare reform.
Ben & Jerry’s believes that Unilever has tried to suppress its advocacy efforts in favor of more neutral, market-friendly positions. These tensions highlight the ongoing struggle for brands like Ben & Jerry’s to balance social responsibility with corporate interests in a global market.
The legal battle between Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever comes at a time when the two companies are already facing significant challenges. Unilever announced plans in 2022 to spin off its ice cream business, including Ben & Jerry’s, by 2025 as part of a broader restructuring initiative.
Ben & Jerry’s Founders Feud with Unilever Over Trump, Push for Multibillion-Dollar Buyback of Iconic Ice Cream Brand
