Ben & Jerry’s Sues Unilever Over Trump Critique

Ben & Jerry’s has accused its parent company Unilever of preventing the ice cream brand from publicly criticizing former President Donald Trump according to recent reports.

The allegations surfaced in an amended complaint filed in a Manhattan federal court where Ben & Jerry’s expanded on a previous lawsuit against Unilever. The ice cream maker claimed that Unilever’s management specifically blocked a social policy statement mentioning Trump.

The contention centers around Unilever allegedly barring Ben & Jerry’s from commenting on controversial issues like abortion climate change minimum wages and universal healthcare under Trump’s administration. This move is seen by Ben & Jerry’s as an infringement on its social mission and brand integrity.

Despite a settlement in 2022 which was supposed to respect Ben & Jerry’s independent board and social mission the ice cream company now alleges continued interference from Unilever especially around politically charged statements.

Unilever has yet to respond publicly to these new claims but the situation could complicate Unilever’s plans to spin off its ice cream business including Ben & Jerry’s. The lawsuit might affect potential buyers’ or investors’ perception of the brand’s value.

Ben & Jerry’s has a long history of social activism dating back to its founding in 1978. The brand has often taken stances on political and social issues which sometimes clash with the broader corporate strategy of Unilever.

This legal battle underscores the tension between corporate oversight and brand autonomy particularly when it comes to politically sensitive speech. It also highlights how corporate parents might navigate the waters of politically charged environments.

The outcome of this lawsuit could set a precedent for how much freedom subsidiaries have under large conglomerates to express political views especially when those views might conflict with the parent company’s interests or public image.