Ben & Jerry's co-founder asks Kareena to back brand on Gaza

Ben Cohen, co-founder of ice-cream brand Ben & Jerry’s, has urged Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor Khan to use her platform to support the brand amid its dispute over its social-activism policies and comments on Gaza.

In a post on X on August 21, Cohen referred to Kapoor’s long-standing association with Unilever and Magnum and her previous public expressions concerning violence against Palestinian children. He urged her to encourage the company to support Ben & Jerry’s independence.

Cohen alleged that Unilever had sought to silence criticism of the Israeli government, including statements by Ben & Jerry’s concerning Gaza. The allegations form part of a wider dispute between Ben & Jerry’s and its former parent company over the ice-cream maker’s social mission and ability to speak publicly on political issues.

Cohen wrote that he believed Kapoor would support Ben & Jerry’s if the issue was brought to her attention. He also urged his followers to draw attention to the matter through the hashtags #BoycottMagnum and #FreeBenandJerrys.