Ice Cream entrepreneur Jerry from Ben & Jerry's is resigning following allegations of suppressing free speech
Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Jerry Greenfield Resigns Amidst Disagreements Over Political Stances
Jerry Greenfield, one of the co-founders of the iconic ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's, has announced his resignation. Greenfield's decision comes amidst friction over social and political issues between him, his fellow co-founder Ben Cohen, and the current owners of Ben & Jerry's, Unilever.
Greenfield's resignation statement, made public on Wednesday, expressed that he is leaving with a broken heart. This decision follows a series of events where Ben & Jerry's has taken political stances and advocated for social justice, which, according to Greenfield, has led to a loss of autonomy for the brand under Unilever's ownership.
The loss of autonomy is occurring at a time when the current US administration is rolling back civil and human rights. In May, the Ben & Jerry's board condemned Israel's war in Gaza as a genocide. The ice cream brand also announced in 2021 that it would no longer sell ice cream in occupied Palestinian territories, namely Israeli settlements in the West Bank. This decision led to a lawsuit between Ben & Jerry's and Unilever, with the company alleging that it has been silenced and sidelined for fear of upsetting those in power.
Ben & Jerry's has supported various social and political causes over the years, including LGBTQ+ rights, combating climate change, peace, justice, human rights, and has publicly supported Palestinian refugees and advocated to end military aid to Israel. Cohen himself was earlier arrested at a pro-Palestinian protest in Washington D.C., and the co-founders backed movements such as Black Lives Matter in 2020 and supported US politician Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign in 2019.
Magnum, the ice cream company that Ben & Jerry's is set to split off from formally in November, seeks to engage both co-founders in a constructive conversation on how to strengthen Ben & Jerry's values-based position in the world. Magnum's spokesperson stated that they respect Greenfield's decision and are committed to upholding the brand's values.
Ben Cohen, the other co-founder, supports Greenfield's decision and believes his legacy should remain true to Ben & Jerry's values. Cohen himself has been vocal in his support of Greenfield, stating that the company's values are more important than any business deal.
The lawsuit between Ben & Jerry's and Unilever is ongoing, and it remains to be seen how this development will affect the future of the beloved ice cream brand. Greenfield's resignation, however, serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that companies face when they choose to take a stand for what they believe in.
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