By Hannah Ahmed

Copyright birminghammail

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder, Jerry Greenfield, has announced his departure from the 47-year-old brand after claiming the company has been “silenced.” The creator wrote a lengthy letter to the Ben & Jerry’s community which was posted earlier today (September 17) as shock rippled across the world. Jerry has been a part of the brand right from the idea’s formulation in 1978, witnessing the growth and changes of the famous ice cream company. READ MORE: Tesco, Morrisons, Waitrose remove cereal from shelves over deadly health risk However, in an unexpected note on X, he has alleged the brand has been “silenced” and “sidelined” for “fear of upsetting those in power.” In a powerful confession he admitted if “the company couldn’t stand up for the things we believed in, then it wasn’t worth being a company at all.” His co-founder, Ben Cohen, tagged Magnum Global before publishing the post, writing: “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 ” The full statement read: “To the Ben & Jerry’s Community: “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. “I am resigning from the company Ben and I started back in 1978. This is one of the hardest and most painful decisions I’ve ever made. “This isn’t because I’ve lost my love for the people at Ben & Jerry’s. Quite the opposite. The folks who show up everyday in our factories, scoop shops and offices are some of the most passionate, caring and values-driven people you’ll ever meet. They are the soul of Ben & Jerry’s. “What has made their work so important to me, and what allowed the company to be more than just an ice cream company, was the independence to pursue our values, which was guaranteed when Unilever bought the company. “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. “That independence existed in no small part because of the unique merger agreement Ben and I negotiated with Unilever, one that enshrined our social mission and values in the company’s governance structure in perpetuity. “It’s profoundly disappointing to come to the conclusion that independence, the very basis of our sale to Unilever, is gone.” Jerry went on to discuss the current climate of the world, writing: “And 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. “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. “It’s easy to stand up and speak out when there’s nothing at risk. The real test of values is when times are challenging and you have something to lose. “Love, equity, justice. They’re part of who Ben and I are and they’ve always been the true foundation of Ben & Jerry’s. From the very beginning, Ben and I believed that our values and the pursuit of justice were more important than the company itself. “If the company couldn’t stand up for the things we believed in, then it wasn’t worth being a company at all.” Jerry rounded off the statement by sharing how this goes beyond ice cream, looking at it as a way to “spread love.” He wrote: “It was always about more than just ice cream; it was a way to spread love and invite others into the fight for equity, justice and a better world. “Coming to the conclusion that this is no longer possible at Ben & Jerry’s means I can no longer remain part of Ben & Jerry’s. READ MORE: Popular bakery brand sold in Tesco and Sainsbury’s ‘to collapse’ in just days “If I can’t carry those values forward inside the company today, then I will carry them forward outside, with all the love and conviction I can.” Ben & Jerry’s is reportedly being split out from Unilever as part of The Magnum Ice Cream Company, which is being lined up for a stock market float, the Mirror said. A spokesperson told the publication: “We will be forever grateful to Jerry for his role in co-founding such an amazing ice cream company, turning his passion for delicious ice cream and addressing social causes into a remarkable success story. ”We thank him for his service and support over many decades and wish him well in his next chapter. We disagree with his perspective and have sought to engage both co-founders in a constructive conversation on how to strengthen Ben & Jerry’s powerful values-based position in the world. ”We remain committed to Ben & Jerry’s unique three-part mission – product, economic and social – and remain focused on carrying forward the legacy of peace, love, and ice cream of this iconic, much-loved brand. ” Ben & Jerry’s is a proud and thriving part of The Magnum Ice Cream Company and we look forward to further building on its success.”