Ben & Jerry’s co-founder quits, says new owner has 'silenced' ice cream maker's social activism

One of the co-founders of ice cream company Ben and Jerry's, Jerry Greenfield, announced that he would be stepping down from the company.

“After 47 years, Jerry has made the difficult decision to step down from the company we built together," the ice cream company's other co-founder, Ben Cohen wrote on the social media platform, X on Tuesday. 

Cohen also shared a statement from Greenfield who said, “It’s with a broken heart that I’ve decided I can no longer, in good conscience, and after 47 years, remain an employee of Ben & Jerry’s.”

Ben & Jerry is known for its liberal activism and made headlines in 2021 for ending its sale of ice cream to Israelis in Gaza in protest of Israel's war with Hamas.

Greenfield said that Unilever, the company that purchased the ice cream in 2000 has "silenced" social activism from the founders. 

"Standing up for values like justicsilenced and sidelined e, equity, and shared humanity has never been more important, yet Ben & Jerry's has been for fear of upsetting those in power," he said.