Ben & Jerry's Accuses Unilever of Silencing CEO Over Politics

Ben & Jerry's has filed a lawsuit against its parent company, Unilever, accusing it of firing CEO David Stever for his commitment to the brand's progressive values. The ice cream maker claims that Unilever violated their merger agreement by removing Stever after he resisted efforts to suppress the company's political activism. Anuradha Mittal, chair of Ben & Jerry's independent board, stated that Stever's removal was part of Unilever's broader strategy to silence the brand's social mission, which has included preventing public statements on various social issues. The lawsuit details multiple instances where Unilever allegedly obstructed Ben & Jerry's from speaking out on topics such as Black Lives Matter and Palestinian rights. This conflict reflects ongoing tensions between the two companies since Unilever's acquisition of Ben & Jerry's in 2000, which included provisions intended to protect the brand's social mission. Unilever has not yet responded to these latest allegations, but it is expected to file a motion to dismiss the lawsuit soon.