Chance the Rapper applauded Ben & Jerry’s after co-founder Jerry Greenfield revealed he was stepping away from the company.
Greenfield’s announcement, shared through fellow co-founder Ben Cohen on Tuesday (Sept. 16), cited Unilever’s crackdown on the brand’s freedom to speak out on social issues as the reason for his departure.
The following day, Chance retweeted the statement, praising both Greenfield and Cohen while voicing frustration over the circumstances.
“Ben & Jerry’s is the only major company I know of that has repeatedly lobbied for Black American Reparations,” Chance wrote. “Two older men with access who have no incentive other than justice, are now being punished and silenced for their unwavering support of Palestine. I’m not heartbroken, im galvanized. We continue to fight the good fight.”
In his statement, Greenfield said he “can no longer, in good conscience, and after 47 years, remain” with the company he and Cohen launched back in 1978.
Unilever bought Ben & Jerry’s in 2000 for $326 million, per the Associated Press.
“For more than twenty years under their ownership, Ben & Jerry’s stood up and spoke out in support of peace, justice, and human rights, not as abstract concepts, but in relation to real events happening in our world,” Cohen’s statement read.
Cohen noted that “independence” was a core part of Ben & Jerry’s merger with Unilever, but claimed the corporation has since gone back on that agreement.
“It’s happening at a time when our country’s current administration is attacking civil rights, voting rights, the rights of immigrants, women, and the LGBTQ community,” Greenfield added. “Standing up for the values of justice, equity, and our shared humanity has never been more important, and yet Ben & Jerry’s has been silenced, sidelined for fear of upsetting those in power.”
Tensions between the ice cream brand and Unilever have grown in recent years, particularly over Ben & Jerry’s outspoken support for Palestinians amid Israel’s attacks.
Meanwhile, Chance has kept up his own criticism of the Trump administration, recently making headlines for wearing a “Fuck ICE” chain in protest of increased federal raids and immigrant detentions.
