Ben & Jerry’s accuses parent company Unilever of silencing Trump criticism

• Ben & Jerry’s is accusing its parent company of silencing its criticism of President Donald Trump. In a filing on Thursday in U.S. federal court, Ben & Jerry’s said Unilever is banning the ice cream maker from “issuing any posts criticizing President Trump.”
• The parent company’s chief defended the company, saying restructuring is creating a “new dynamic” in an “unprecedented time,” but didn’t specifically address the accusations.
• Unilever, which owns other notable brands like Dove, Breyer’s, Hellmann’s and Vaseline, plans to spin off Ben & Jerry’s later this year.

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Ben & Jerry’s is accusing its parent company of silencing its criticism of President Donald Trump.

In a filing on Thursday, Feb. 13, in U.S. federal court, Ben & Jerry’s said Unilever is banning the ice cream maker from “issuing any posts criticizing President Trump.”

What else does Unilever own?

Unilever, which owns other notable brands like Dove, Breyers, Hellmann’s and Vaseline, plans to spin off Ben & Jerry’s later this year.

Unilever’s ice cream revenue alone reportedly brought in more than $8.7 billion last year.

What are the previous accusations against Unilever?

Ben & Jerry’s said Unilever previously barred a social media post on sensitive issues when Trump was inaugurated because it mentioned the president.

Ben & Jerry’s latest lawsuit comes as it also accuses Unilever of planning to break up its independent board and end its political activism.

How does it play into the bigger picture?

The allegations come as many companies have changed their social policies, including scrapping Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives since Trump began his second term in office.

Ben & Jerry’s has been a politically active company since its founding in 1978 by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield.

When did Unilever buy Ben & Jerry’s?

Unilever bought Ben & Jerry’s in 2000, and legal battles between the two companies have ensued since 2021, when Ben & Jerry’s stopped selling its ice cream in the Israeli-occupied West Bank in protest over Israeli settlements.