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Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, announced on Tuesday his departure from the ice cream company, alleging that its parent company, Unilever, is suppressing its activism.
Ben & Jerry’s and its founders have a history of engaging in social and political issues, including advocating for the return of lands to indigenous tribes and supporting “gender-affirming care.” Co-founder Ben Cohen revealed that Greenfield made the “difficult decision” to resign after 47 years, sharing a detailed statement from Greenfield on X regarding his departure.
“What has made their work so important to me, and what allowed the company to be more than just an ice cream company, was the independence to pursue our values, which was guaranteed when Unilever bought the company,” Greenfield’s statement noted. “For more than twenty years under their ownership, Ben & Jerry’s stood up and spoke out in support of peace, justice, and human rights, not as abstract concepts, but in relation to real events happening in our world.”
Cohen expressed his support for Greenfield’s resignation, stating, “After 47 years, Jerry has made the difficult decision to step down from the company we built together. I’m sharing his words as he resigns from Ben & Jerry’s. His legacy deserves to be true to our values, not silenced by @MagnumGlobal #FreeBenAndJerrys pic.twitter.com/EZXGRjs76a
https://twitter.com/MagnumGlobal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
— Ben Cohen (@YoBenCohen) September 17, 2025.
Greenfield emphasized that the independence he cherished was largely due to the unique merger agreement he and Cohen negotiated with Unilever, which enshrined their social mission and values in the company’s governance. “It’s profoundly disappointing to come to the conclusion that that independence, the very basis of our sale to Unilever, is gone,” he said.
He further stated that Ben & Jerry’s is being “silenced” due to “fear of upsetting those in power,” but he intends to continue advocating for “equity, justice, and a better world” beyond the company.
In related news, Greenfield and Cohen supported former Vice President Kamala Harris’s 2024 campaign by creating an ice cream flavor called “Kamala’s Coconut Jubilee,” referencing a well-known remark of hers. This flavor was launched under the Ben’s Best brand, which is separate from Ben & Jerry’s.
Cohen gained attention in May when he interrupted a Senate hearing for Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., passionately proclaiming, “You’re killing poor kids in Gaza and paying for it by cutting Medicaid for kids here,” before being escorted out by Capitol Police.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Unilever for a response.
