One of the co-founders of Ben & Jerry’s just packed up his cone and left the company – again – and this time, politics was the final scoop.
Jerry Greenfield, the “Jerry” in Ben & Jerry’s, resigned on September 17, 2025, after a blow-up with parent company Unilever.
The reason? He claims Unilever is silencing the company’s left-wing activism, especially when it comes to the conflict in Gaza.
BREAKING: Jerry from Ben & Jerry’s has resigned from the company because he was being “silenced” from his activism for social justice, equity, and pushing back against the Trump admin.
Ben & Jerry’s is a leftist activist company. pic.twitter.com/yZzmSCUxNG
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) September 17, 2025
If this sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Ben & Jerry’s has a long history of putting politics ahead of pints.
Whether it’s climate change, defunding the police, or taking sides in global conflicts, the ice cream brand has never been shy about jumping into hot-button issues.
But now, one of its founders is saying he can’t do it anymore.
A Public Meltdown in London
Greenfield’s resignation followed a public protest outside Unilever headquarters in London, where his partner Ben Cohen showed up waving signs and demanding the company “free Ben & Jerry’s.”
No, not from the freezer – but from what he calls corporate censorship.
Unilever bought the company back in 2000, but agreed to let it keep an “independent board” to handle its social justice agenda.
Now, that same board says Unilever is crossing the line and trying to muzzle them, especially when it comes to comments about Israel and support for Palestinian refugees.
Cohen and Greenfield have both pushed hard for the brand to speak out against Israel’s military actions.
But when Unilever stepped in to tone it down, they cried foul – and even filed a lawsuit. The case didn’t go their way.
It’s Not Just About Ice Cream
This isn’t just about two guys fighting over sprinkles.
It’s about how some companies have gone from selling products to selling politics.
When you walk into a store and see Cherry Garcia or Phish Food, you’re not just buying dessert anymore. You’re buying into a worldview.
One that, in this case, has taken a hard stance in favor of controversial international movements – and isn’t shy about it.
Ben & Jerry’s even released a video listing all their “values,” including ending systemic racism, saving the planet from climate change, and “supporting democracy.”
But critics have pointed out that their version of “supporting democracy” often lines up with far-left causes, including groups that support boycotts of Israel.
Nevada’s Scoop on This Story
While the resignation happened overseas, the culture war is alive and well here in Nevada..
This story matters because it shows how far major brands will go to push political agendas – and how those agendas don’t always sit well with average Americans just trying to enjoy a treat without a lecture.
In fact, according to a 2023 poll by The Trafalgar Group, nearly 78% of Americans said they prefer companies stay out of politics altogether.
That includes a lot of folks right here in the Silver State.
A Not-So-Sweet Ending
So now, Jerry Greenfield has walked away. Ben Cohen is still yelling outside Unilever’s front door.
And the rest of us are left wondering what happened to the days when ice cream was just, well… ice cream.
Critics of Unilever say the company is betraying the very brand it bought into.
But critics of Ben & Jerry’s say the company betrayed its customers a long time ago – when it stopped focusing on flavors and started trying to fix the world.
Either way, this latest meltdown might finally be the wake-up call for companies that keep trading common sense for political drama.
If they’re not careful, the only thing they’ll be “scooping” is their profits – right into the trash.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
