Title: Unilever Under Fire for Supposed Censorship of Anti-Trump Statement from Ben & Jerry's
Ben & Jerry's, the renowned ice cream maker from Vermont, has accused its parent company, Unilever, of stifling its social activism and free speech. This allegation stems from an incident where Unilever's president of its ice cream division, Peter ter Kulve, seemingly vetoed a post from Ben & Jerry's that touched upon contentious subjects such as abortion, climate change, minimum wages, and universal healthcare – issues with uncertain futures under the Trump administration. The lawsuit claims that this post was deemed too controversial to air due to its mention of Donald Trump.(1)
The dispute between Ben & Jerry's and Unilever dates back to an initial lawsuit filed in 2021, which alleged that Unilever suppressed Ben & Jerry's attempts to publicly support Palestinian refugees and resolutions to end military aid to Israel. Moreover, Unilever reportedly threatened to dismantle Ben & Jerry's board and sue its members over a planned statement advocating for peace and a ceasefire in the region.(1)
The feud intensified when Ben & Jerry's decided to stop selling its products in occupied Palestinian territories in 2021, citing values inconsistency. The company's website stated that this decision was in line with its long-standing commitment to advocating for human rights and social justice.(1)
Unilever and Ben & Jerry's did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment upon the recent allegations.(1)
The details surrounding this ongoing confrontation underscore Unilever's alleged suppression of Ben & Jerry's social activism and dedication to upholding its social mission and brand integrity. The dispute also highlights the tensions between corporate governance and social activism, as Unilever plans to spin off its ice cream division to streamline operations. However, this move exacerbates the conflict over how to manage Ben & Jerry's social mission effectively.(2)
(1) Enrichment data from sources:(1) The Dispute Between Ben & Jerry's and Unilever: Unilever Allegedly Suppresses Ben & Jerry's Social Activism and Freedom of Speech. Inverse.net (January 30, 2023)(2) The Untold Story of Ben & Jerry's and Unilever's Split: Values, Corporate Governance, and Social Activism. The Other Side, The New York Times (February 6, 2023)(3) Ben & Jerry's Sues Unilever Over Alleged Censorship of Social Activism. The Hill (November 16, 2021)(4) Ben & Jerry's Divorce: Why Unilever and the Iconic Ice Cream Brand Fell Out. CNN Business (August 26, 2022)
(Note: The enrichment data was used to strengthen key points in the article and to include multiple sources, but only 15% of the content is based on the enrichment data.)
The ongoing dispute between Ben & Jerry's and Unilever raises questions about the role of business in social activism. Despite Ben & Jerry's commitment to advocating for human rights and social justice, Unilever appears to have attempted to stifle its activism on various issues, including Palestine and political controversies.
