Ben & Jerry’s CEO Allegedly Fired Over Company's Activism

Last Tuesday, Ben & Jerry’s said Unilever told its board on March 3 that it was removing and replacing Ben & Jerry’s CEO David Stever. 

Ben & Jerry’s said its CEO was fired by its parent company, Unilever over the ice cream maker’s social and political activism. Ben & Jerry’s is accusing its parent company Unilever of violating its merger agreement, removing its chief executive without advisory committee approval from Ben & Jerry’s board, per the Associated Press. 

“Unilever is most likely afraid of retaliation they might face by the current administration and are feeling the pressure as other companies fold under pressure,” said Alexis Young, a fourth-year political science major and President of the political science club.

Unilever claimed Ben & Jerry's in 2000, claiming that the partnership would help expand the progressive ice cream company's social mission of seeking to “meet human needs and eliminate injustices in our local, national, and international communities.” 

“Right now their mission is blatantly being silenced,” said Young.

In recent years, their partnership has gone awry. In 2021, Ben & Jerry's announced it would stop serving Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The following year, Unilever sold its Israeli business to a local company that said it would sell Ben & Jerry's under its Hebrew and Arabic name, per the Associated Press.

“Unilever will do anything to make a profit, and that is sad,” said Phaedra Hyche, a third-year political science major and member of the political science club.“There are more important things in the world than money, and it shows that they are a soulless corporation willing to do anything for a quick buck.”

Just last November, Ben & Jerry’s sued Unilever and accused them of silencing their statements in support of Palestinians. 

“It raises a bigger question about how much control Ben & Jerry’s truly has over its voice under Unilever’s ownership,” said a second-year political science student and member of the political science club, who wishes to remain anonymous.

In Ben & Jerry’s complaint, the company also said Unilever has refused to let them release social media posts regarding minimum wages, universal healthcare, abortion, and climate change. 

“With the new administration, many companies are following suit and stripping any left-leaning views and policies,” said Young.

Many students say Ben & Jerry’s mission and continuous support for social and political issues is a “daring and different” move at a time when many companies are seemingly backtracking for the sake of making a profit.

“Hopefully now that this issue has come to light another brave company can work with them in the future and stand in solidarity with Ben & Jerry’s so their mission is not silenced forever,” said Young.