Ben & Jerry's boss 'ousted over political activism'

Ben & Jerry's has said its main executive, David Stever, was being removed by its genitor company, Unilever, successful a increasing quality implicit the crystal pick company's governmental activism.

The allegation was portion of a ineligible lawsuit filed successful a US tribunal by Ben & Jerry's that says Unilever violated a merger statement by trying to soundlessness its "social mission".

Unilever did not instantly reply to a petition for remark from BBC News.

It comes a period aft the crystal pick institution accused Unilever of demanding that it stops publically criticising US President Donald Trump.

"Unilever has repeatedly threatened Ben & Jerry's personnel, including CEO David Stever, should they neglect to comply with Unilever's efforts to soundlessness the societal mission," the filing with the US District Court for the Southern District of New York said.

It besides said the determination to oust Mr Stever was made without immoderate consultation, arsenic required successful the merger statement betwixt the 2 companies.

"Unilever...attempted to unit the autarkic committee into rubberstamping the decision", it added.

Ben & Jerry's was bought by Unilever successful 2000 done a merger statement that created an autarkic committee tasked with protecting the crystal pick brand's values and mission.

The institution has agelong been known for taking a nationalist stance connected societal issues.

Mr Stever has been with Ben & Jerry's since joining the steadfast successful 1988 arsenic a circuit guide. He was appointed main enforcement successful 2023.

Unilever and Ben & Jerry's were already astatine loggerheads then. Their narration soured successful 2021 erstwhile Ben & Jerry's announced it was halting income successful the West Bank.

The quality escalated implicit the past twelvemonth arsenic Ben & Jerry's advocated for a ceasefire successful Gaza.

In November, the crystal pick institution filed a suit saying Unilever had tried to halt it from expressing enactment for Palestinian refugees.

Last month, successful different tribunal filing, Ben & Jerry's said Unilever had tried to prohibition it from publically criticising Donald Trump.