Unilever Urges Ben & Jerry’s Lawsuit Be Dismissed, Says Firm Pursued ‘Staunchly Pro-Palestinian Stance’
London (Quds News Network)- Unilever rejected on Friday the accusation that it tried to oust former Ben & Jerry’s chief executive Dave Stever for supporting his company’s progressive social activism, including protesting Israel’s war in Gaza, saying it offered him a bigger role and more pay but he chose to resign.
Ben & Jerry’s previously filed a lawsuit against Unilever, accusing it of attempting to oust Stever and its board over the ice cream maker’s vocal criticism of Israel and President Trump.
In a court filing on Friday, Unilever rejected the claims and sought to have the case dismissed, as it accused Ben & Jerry’s of pursuing a “staunchly pro-Palestinian, anti-Israeli stance” that caused it to lose investors and tarred its reputation.
Unilever also claimed that Stever was offered a pay increase and a “prominent role in the larger global ice cream business”, but he chose to voluntarily resign on March 31 this year.
Shahmeer Halepota, a lawyer for Ben & Jerry’s, called Unilever’s “revisionism” a “thinly-veiled attempt to save face in the context of its threats, professional reprisals, and ban on criticizing the Trump administration’s policies.”
Ben & Jerry’s has said Unilever’s efforts to silence its activism violated an agreement the companies signed in 2000, when London-based Unilever bought the Vermont-based maker of Cherry Garcia.
Ben & Jerry’s has been battling its London-based owner for years over its freedom to support causes publicly, like protesting Trump and the Israeli war in Gaza.
In 2022, the ice cream brand sued Unilever for selling its Ben & Jerry’s business in Israel to a partner that continued to sell the sweet treats with slightly different branding. The companies reached a settlement that same year, which required Unilever to respect Ben & Jerry’s independent board.
