Jerry Greenfield, one of the founders of Ben and Jerry, resigned on September 17, 2025, after 47 years in the company. He makes this decision after enduring ceaseless conflicts with Unilever regarding the brand’s independence and social mission. The news went viral on the news and social media, and was trending under such hashtags as #FreeBenAndJerrys.
Tensions between the founders and Unilever escalated from 2021, especially after Ben & Jerry’s announced it would stop sales in Israeli-occupied territories. The independent board pushed this decision, but Unilever later transferred Israeli distribution rights, which critics said undermined the company’s stance.
Other battles included the bans on political utterances about Gaza, U.S. civil rights, climate change as well as other rights of people. The problem reached its peak in 2025 when Ben and Jerrys sued Unilever to dismiss the CEO of the company stating it interfered with the power of the independent board.
Greenfield’s resignation letter stated:
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“I can no longer, in good conscience, remain an employee of Ben & Jerry’s.”
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“Ben & Jerry’s silenced and sidelined for fear of upsetting those in power.”
His decision made headlines under variations like Jerry quit Ben and Jerry and Ben and Jerry quit corporate independence.
Unilever’s ice cream division, being restructured as the Magnum Ice Cream Company, thanked Greenfield but rejected his claims of censorship. Progressives welcomed his move as a stand for free expression, while critics accused the brand of politicizing ice cream.
Unilever continues with its spin-off of ice cream and this makes the future of the company unpredictable. Ben Cohen has been pushing to go independent, and Greenfield is going to remain an activist outside the company. The resignation is a turning point in the protracted conflict that started following the acquisition of 2000.
