Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Exits After a Rift Over Gaza
After 47 years, Jerry Greenfield quits, accusing Unilever of stifling Ben & Jerry’s on Gaza and social justice issues.
Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, has stepped down as brand ambassador after 47 years with the company, citing a breach in the core values that defined the brand’s social mission.
In an open letter shared by fellow co-founder Ben Cohen, Greenfield accused parent company Unilever of suppressing Ben & Jerry’s activism—particularly its outspoken responses to the Gaza conflict. He said that the “unique merger agreement” made in 2000, meant to protect the company’s independence to voice social justice issues, has been eroded.
The conflict has been simmering for years, notably since 2021 when Ben & Jerry’s halted sales in Israeli-occupied West Bank territories. More recently, the brand has publicly labelled the Gaza war “genocide,” launched legal action, and pressured for a spin-off to regain its autonomy. Greenfield’s exit marks a dramatic moment in the long-standing tension between ethics and corporate control.
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