Jerry Greenfield, one of the co-founders of the Vermont-based ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s, announced Tuesday that he is leaving the company after nearly five decades. Greenfield’s decision, which he described as painful, comes amid disputes over the company’s social activism following its acquisition by Unilever.

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

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Ben Cohen, the company’s other co-founder, shared the news on the social media platform X. “After 47 years, Jerry has made the difficult decision to step down from the company we built together,” Cohen wrote.

He included a statement from Greenfield explaining his reasons for departing.

“It’s with a broken heart that I’ve decided I can no longer, in good conscience, and after 47 years, remain an employee of Ben & Jerry’s,” Greenfield said in the statement.

After 47 years, Jerry has made the difficult decision to step down from the company we built together. I’m sharing his words as he resigns from Ben & Jerry’s. His legacy deserves to be true to our values, not silenced by @MagnumGlobal #FreeBenAndJerrys pic.twitter.com/EZXGRjs76a

— Ben Cohen (@YoBenCohen) September 17, 2025

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Founded in 1978, Ben & Jerry’s has long been known not just for its ice cream but also for its public embrace of liberal causes.

The company drew national and international attention in July 2021 when it announced it would stop selling its products in what it called “Occupied Palestinian Territory,” referring to areas in Gaza.

The move was described by the company at the time as a protest against Israel’s policies toward Hamas and the broader conflict, and it immediately sparked backlash from supporters of Israel and praise from activists aligned with Palestinian causes.

Unilever, the multinational corporation that purchased Ben & Jerry’s in 2000, later intervened in the controversy, saying it did not support the company’s decision to boycott sales in Israel.

The dispute reveals tensions between the founders’ long-standing commitment to using the brand as a platform for political advocacy and the parent company’s interest in maintaining global market stability.

In his Tuesday statement, Greenfield argued that corporate pressures had constrained the social mission he and Cohen had emphasized since the company’s founding.

“Standing up for values like justice, equity, and shared humanity has never been more important, yet Ben & Jerry’s has been silenced and sidelined for fear of upsetting those in power,” Greenfield said.

His resignation marks the first time since the Unilever purchase that one of the founders has formally cut ties with the company over disagreements regarding its activism.

Cohen has remained outspoken on various political issues, including U.S. foreign policy and domestic politics, though his influence within the corporate structure of Ben & Jerry’s has also been limited since the takeover.

Greenfield did not provide details on what he plans to do following his departure, but his statement suggested he intends to continue supporting activist causes outside the company framework.

His exit leaves Ben & Jerry’s at a crossroads as it attempts to balance its history of political advocacy with the corporate expectations of its parent company.

The announcement drew immediate attention in both the business and activist communities, reflecting the long-standing symbolic role Ben & Jerry’s has played in linking consumer products with progressive social movements.

Greenfield’s departure raises new questions about the company’s future direction and whether its leadership will continue to publicly align the brand with political activism or shift toward a more traditional corporate model under Unilever’s oversight.

Greenfield’s decision concludes a 47-year chapter in which he and Cohen transformed a small Vermont ice cream shop into one of the most recognizable food brands in the world, known as much for its political messaging as for its flavors.

The company has not yet announced how Greenfield’s departure will affect its leadership structure moving forward.

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