Ben & Jerry's, the popular ice cream company, has filed a lawsuit against its parent company Unilever, accusing it of dismissing its CEO David Stever for his social activism without the approval of the ice cream manufacturer's board of directors, reports Efe.
According to the complaint filed by Ben & Jerry's, Stever's dismissal is not related to his job performance but rather to his commitment to the brand's social activism, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The board of directors assured the court that with this action, Unilever violated the terms of the merger agreement between the companies in 2000 and is attempting to dismantle Ben & Jerry's independent board, empowered to make decisions regarding the brand's mission.
According to the newspaper, the company also accuses Unilever, owner of well-known brands such as Dove soaps, Hellmann's mayonnaise, or AXE deodorant, of preventing them from issuing publications against racial discrimination or in solidarity with Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, detained by U.S. Immigration agents a week ago.
The newspaper notes that this lawsuit is an escalation in the legal battle between these companies after the ice cream manufacturer sued Unilever last fall for allegedly silencing their attempts to speak in support of Palestinians.