Ben Cohen, a co-founder of iconic ice cream brand, is speaking out about the company’s new owners, claiming that they’re “silencing Ben & Jerry’s when the brand has tried to speak out about social injustices and progressive values.”
Back in 2000, Ben & Jerry’s was acquired by Unilever, which folded the ice cream brand into its Magnum Ice Cream Company.
In an email sent out by progressive activist organization MoveOn, Cohen claimed that his partner, Jerry Greenfield, “made one of the hardest and most painful decisions he’s ever made: He stepped down from the company that we started 47 years ago.” Cohen said it was due to the new owners shutting down Ben & Jerry’s attempts to make statements.
Parade has reached out to Unilever for comment.
“It was always about more than just ice cream: Love, equity, justice—they’re part of who Jerry and I are, and they’ve always been the true foundation of Ben & Jerry’s. We cannot let those values be simply discarded under political pressure from the Trump administration and strongman politics. In response to corporate attempts to censor the brand we built, we’re fighting back to #FreeBenandJerrys,” Cohen wrote.
The ice cream mogul went on to explain that the Ben & Jerry tried to make a new ice cream flavor to call for peace in Palestine but were blocked by Unilever/Magnum.
Undaunted, Cohen is speaking out and taking action on his own. “I'm doing what they couldn't. I'm making a watermelon-flavored ice cream that calls for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for repairing all of the damage that was done there. And I'm doing this to shine a light on the experience of Palestinian people, so the world does not look the other way. Palestinians deserve dignity, safety, and the same rights that all humans should have,” he added.
Cohen is asking supporters to sign a petition demanding that “Unilever stop silencing Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. He’s also raffling off free pints of his pro-ceasefire sorbet.
He recently shared a post on his official Instagram asking supporters to “Name my watermelon flavor, suggest ingredients, and help design the packaging.” In the post, he added, “Let’s show @Magnum what creativity and solidarity can do. Tag @magnum so they hear our voices! #JusticeforPalestine#freebenandjerrys.”
Supporters offered some suggestions in the comments.
“’Watan-Melon’ - Watan” means homeland in Arabic. Base Layer -Fresh watermelon purée, Lemon juice, Mint essence or fresh spearmint. Swirl- Pomegranate molasses ripple, Pistachio crumble, Toasted sesame brittle bits,” wrote one.
“What-a-Melon ? Freedom is more delicious, when shared,” added another.
“This? A political statement? No it’s “Just-Ice For Pals-Of-Mine”, nothing political about it ?,” a third person wrote.
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