Ben & Jerry’s has finally hit a wall. Unilever has removed CEO David Stever, citing his leadership failures and the brand’s declining performance, largely due to years of aggressive political activism. From Black Lives Matter to defunding the police to its stance on Palestine, Ben & Jerry’s didn’t just sell ice cream—it sold a worldview. And a growing number of customers weren’t buying it.
Stever’s tenure wasn’t just controversial—it was divisive. The company’s constant political posturing alienated large portions of its customer base, leading to a noticeable drop in sales and public backlash. Ben & Jerry’s once enjoyed broad appeal, but under Stever, it became a symbol of radical activism, pushing many longtime fans away.
Unilever had long clashed with the ice cream brand’s independent board, which insisted on maintaining its activist approach despite clear financial consequences. This firing signals that Unilever is finally stepping in to clean up the mess. While the company claims this move is purely about performance, the message is clear—the activism experiment failed, and the brand is in damage control mode.
Sources:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14516317/ben-jerrys-ceo-fired-parent-company-unilever.html