Co-founder of Ben & Jerry's announces departure, decrying loss of autonomy
In a surprising turn of events, Jerry Seinfeld, one of the co-founders of the iconic ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's, announced his departure from the company earlier this year. Seinfeld's departure comes after a series of disagreements with the company's parent company, Unilever, over political issues.
The roots of Ben & Jerry's go back to 1978 when Seinfeld and his partner Ben Cohen founded the company. Over the years, the brand has been known for its activism and progressive stance on various social issues. However, Seinfeld's departure marks a significant shift in the company's history.
Last year, Seinfeld joined a group of Jewish figures in an open letter opposing the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC. This was followed by a controversial incident in May when Cohen was removed from a US Senate hearing for shouting about bombs killing children in Gaza. Both Seinfeld and Cohen are longtime critics of Israeli policy.
The disputes between Seinfeld and Unilever reached a boiling point when the company failed to block Unilever from selling ice cream in West Bank settlements. This decision led to Seinfeld's statement that he could no longer remain an employee of Ben & Jerry's due to the company being silenced and sidelined.
As of now, Ben & Jerry's is owned by the Magnum Ice Cream Company, a Unilever subsidiary. In response to Seinfeld's departure, the Magnum spokesperson seeks to engage both co-founders in a constructive conversation. The spokesperson stated that the company remains committed to Ben & Jerry's mission and legacy.
However, Jerry Seinfeld's perspective on Ben & Jerry's is disputed by the Magnum spokesperson. Seinfeld, in his statement published late on Tuesday, expressed his disappointment over the loss of independence, which was the basis of the sale to Unilever. He has not announced a new employer since leaving Ben & Jerry's.
The current US administration is under attack for its actions against civil rights, voting rights, the rights of immigrants, women, and the LGBTQ community. It remains to be seen how these political tensions will affect the future of Ben & Jerry's and its commitment to social activism.
