For decades, Ben & Jerry’s has been more than just an ice cream company — it’s been a loud, proud, and unapologetic advocate for progressive causes. From climate justice to racial equity, the brand has built an identity around speaking truth to power. But now, that identity is at the center of a corporate power struggle.

Ben & Jerry’s is accusing its parent company, Unilever, of firing CEO David Stever, not because of poor performance but because he refused to back down from the company’s social mission. According to the New York Times, the lawsuit, filed in a Manhattan, NY, federal court, claims that Unilever violated a key part of its 2000 merger agreement by removing Stever without advisory board approval.

What started as a quirky Vermont ice cream shop with a social conscience has now turned into a legal battleground, with Unilever allegedly trying to muzzle the very activism that made Ben & Jerry’s a cultural force.

A Brewing Corporate Clash

Ben & Jerry’s alleges that Unilever’s decision to fire Stever on March 3 was about politics, not profits. Under his leadership, the brand was outperforming Unilever’s other ice cream lines, including Magnum. Yet, according to the lawsuit, Unilever was more concerned with silencing the company’s activism than celebrating its success.

“Unilever has repeatedly threatened Ben & Jerry’s personnel, including C.E.O. David Stever, should they fail to comply with Unilever’s efforts to silence the social mission,” Ben & Jerry’s stated in the filing.

The tension between the two companies has been building for years. In 2021, Ben & Jerry’s announced it would stop selling ice cream in Israeli-occupied territories, a move that sparked global controversy and set off a deeper rift with Unilever. Since then, the ice cream maker has continued to take bold political stances, including calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and supporting student protests against U.S. military aid to Israel — positions that Unilever allegedly tried to suppress.

Unilever’s Alleged Censorship of Ben & Jerry’s

Stever’s firing is just one part of Ben & Jerry’s growing battle against Unilever. The lawsuit accuses the company of systematically censoring the brand’s social justice messages.

According to CNN, in January, Unilever allegedly blocked Ben & Jerry’s from posting about abortion rights, climate change, and universal healthcare simply because the post mentioned President Donald Trump. More recently, Unilever reportedly shut down a post about Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian refugee whose green card was revoked after he participated in Columbia University protests, and even stopped a Black History Month tribute in February.

These incidents add to an earlier lawsuit filed in November 2024, in which Ben & Jerry’s accused Unilever of attempting to dismantle its independent board and threatening legal action against board members who planned to issue a statement calling for peace and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

What’s Next for Ben & Jerry’s?

The battle over Ben & Jerry’s leadership comes at a time of broader turmoil for Unilever. The company’s own CEO, Hein Schumacher, recently stepped down after a short stint, adding another layer of instability to the corporate giant.

Ben & Jerry’s has spent decades proving that a company can sell ice cream and take a stand. But with its future leadership uncertain and a parent company that seems eager to keep it quiet, the question now is whether the brand can continue being the activist powerhouse it has always been — or if corporate control will force it to melt into silence.