Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen has publicly urged veteran actress Kareena Kapoor Khan to cut her corporate ties with Unilever and its ice cream brand Magnum, citing the conglomerate’s suppression of dissent regarding the war in Gaza.
Ben Cohen took to social media to call out the long-standing partnership between the Indian actress and Magnum. Kareena has represented the ice cream brand in India for more than ten years. Amidst recent escalations, she also used her public platform to speak out against violence targeting Palestinian children, sharing statements such as UNICEF updates and viral solidarity posts.
Cohen noted a direct contradiction in this dynamic. While Kapoor champions humanitarian values, her primary corporate sponsor—Unilever—actively silences criticism directed at the Israeli government.
The friction amid Cohen and parent company Unilever stems from a long-running dispute over political expression and corporate oversight. Cohen asserted that Unilever and Magnum have worked to stifle pro-Palestinian stances, pointing to instances where his own ice cream brand was blocked from launching solidarity initiatives. He also highlighted corporate maneuvers aimed at weakening the independent board tasked with protecting Ben & Jerry’s social mission.
In his appeal, Cohen expressed confidence that Kapoor would align her corporate partnerships with her stated moral positions once the conflict of interest was brought to light. He encouraged supporters and online activists to engage directly with the actress’s digital channels
News Edit KV Raman
