🔗 Share this article Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Departs Amid Corporate Advocacy Dispute Jerry Greenfield at an event promoting voter participation – Ben & Jerry's is widely recognized for its progressive advocacy. Ben & Jerry's's co-founder Jerry Greenfield has left the company after nearly five decades, escalating an existing disagreement with corporate owner the multinational conglomerate. Through a letter shared on online platforms by co-creator Ben Cohen, Mr Greenfield asserted that the company had lost its independence after Unilever restricted its social activism. The exit represents the most recent development in a controversy that started in 2021 when Ben & Jerry's announced it would stop sales in disputed territories in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem. An official representative for the ice cream division, which is being separated from Unilever, stated thanks to Greenfield but disagreed with his position. A Painful Choice Through his message, Greenfield characterized departing from the company as "among the toughest and most painful choices" he had ever made, adding that he could no longer in good conscience be part of a organization that had been "silenced" by Unilever. This occurred even with an agreement that protected the company's ethical values when it merged with the global corporation 25 years ago. Corporate Response An official for The Magnum Ice Cream Company stated that the company had been in discussions with both founders before Greenfield's choice to depart. "We disagree with his view and have attempted to involve both founders in a productive conversation on how to bolster the brand's strong principle-driven position in the world," they said. Long-Standing Activism The company has long been known for taking a public stance on progressive causes since its founding in the late 70s, often supporting movements on issues like LGBTQ+ rights and climate change. Earlier this year, Ben & Jerry's claimed that its CEO, David Stever, was being removed by Unilever. The allegation was part of a lawsuit submitted in a American court by Ben & Jerry's that alleged Unilever of violating a contract by trying to silence its "social mission". This followed claims that Unilever had instructed the firm to stop criticizing then-President Donald Trump. A Unilever spokesperson remarked that the corporation was "disappointed that the privacy of an internal discussion has been made public". Additional Events In May, Ben Cohen was arrested during a protest in the American Senate over military aid to Israel and humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Protesters disrupted the session while a government official Robert F Kennedy Jr was speaking. Cohen was accused with a misdemeanour offence, while several other protesters were also taken into custody and face more serious charges, authorities stated.