Ben & Jerry’s is accusing its parent company, Unilever, of violating their merger agreement by firing the ice cream company’s CEO, David Stever, over the brand’s outspoken stance on progressive issues. The move allegedly took place without the approval of the board, breaching the terms set in their 2000 merger.
The legal dispute between Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever has been escalating since 2021. In a newly amended complaint filed on Tuesday in New York, Ben & Jerry’s legal team argued that the merger agreement includes provisions designed to protect the ice cream brand’s interests, specifically preventing the unilateral removal of its CEO. However, Unilever proceeded to remove Stever and replace him without following the proper processes, citing the company’s continued public support for progressive causes as the reason behind the decision.
The lawsuit claims that Unilever removed Ben & Jerry’s CEO, David Stever, due to his strong commitment to the company’s social mission and brand integrity, rather than any legitimate concerns about his performance.
Unilever has yet to respond publicly to requests for comment. In March 2024, the UK-based company announced plans to sell Ben & Jerry’s along with its other ice cream brands, though no deal has been finalized.
This latest legal filing is part of a series of complaints against Unilever, accusing the company of attempting to silence Ben & Jerry’s on social media. In January, the brand claimed that Unilever “unilaterally barred” a post addressing issues like abortion, climate change, and universal healthcare because it mentioned former President Donald Trump.
Ben & Jerry’s also alleges that Unilever prevented a post about Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian refugee whose green card was revoked following his involvement in protests at Columbia University in New York. The post was intended to link to an ACLU petition for Khalil’s release, but it was not allowed to be published, with no explanation from Unilever. Additionally, a post celebrating Black History Month in February was reportedly blocked by the company.
Ben & Jerry’s initial lawsuit, filed in November 2024, accused Unilever of blocking its efforts to publicly support Palestinian refugees and advocate for the end of military aid to Israel, a country the company has been doing business with since 1987. The lawsuit also claimed that Unilever threatened to dismantle Ben & Jerry’s board and sue its members for planning to release a statement calling for “peace” and a “permanent and immediate ceasefire.”
David Stever, who joined the ice cream company in 1988 as a tour guide and became CEO in May 2023, is at the center of the legal dispute. His current role at the company remains unclear.
Unilever is also experiencing changes in leadership, with its CEO stepping down recently after a brief tenure.
