Ben & Jerry's Accuses Unilever of Silencing its Criticism of Trump Amid Planned Spinoff
Ben & Jerry's has filed a lawsuit against its parent company Unilever, alleging that Unilever has violated its agreement to allow Ben & Jerry's to operate independently by banning it from criticizing former U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to Ben & Jerry's, Unilever ice cream chief Peter ter Kulve unilaterally prohibited Ben & Jerry's from issuing any posts criticizing Trump pending further review. Ter Kulve cited Unilever's restructuring as justification for his actions, claiming it created a "new dynamic" in an "unprecedented time."
Ben & Jerry's alleges that Unilever's decision to silence its criticism of Trump is part of a larger effort to dismantle its independent board and end its social activism. Ben & Jerry's has a long history of social activism, and its mission statement includes a commitment to using its business to address social and environmental issues.
The lawsuit comes as Unilever prepares to spin off Ben & Jerry's as a standalone company. Unilever has not yet responded to requests for comment on the allegations made by Ben & Jerry's.