Pop singer Sabrina Carpenter and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream have partnered to release a limited-edition espresso-flavored ice cream, of which, 50% of all profits will benefit the Ali Forney Center, an LGBTQ+-focused nonprofit.
Founded in memory of Ali Forney, a homeless gender nonconforming youth, the organization is committed to protecting LGBTQ+ youth from homelessness and other harm. To achieve this, the center remains open 24 hours a day, offering food and beds to those in the Manhattan area. Additionally, the center offers health, educational, job readiness, and transitional housing resources.
This marks Van Leeuwen’s second LGBTQ+-focused collaboration after its 2023 partnership with the Keith Haring estate. Both the passion fruit berry ice cream and colorful packaging were inspired by Keith Haring’s vibrant art. This collaboration benefited The Center, which, similar to The Center on Colfax in Denver, the Ali Forney Center delivers a variety of services to the New York City queer community. This year’s French-style ice cream coincides with Carpenter’s hit song “Espresso,” which has taken over summer playlists, peaking at three on the Billboard Hot 100.
Carpenter recently went viral for calling out homophobes at the 2024 Governors Ball Festival. At the end of her song, “Nonsense,” she twisted her outro to say, “People who hate Pride can suck my Gov Balls.” She later ended her set by shouting, “Happy Pride, New York!”
While Carpenter does not publicly identify as queer, she has proved a consistent ally. In 2018, Carpenter penned a love letter to the LGBTQ+ community through Billboard, where she called queer people, “some of the most fearless people on the planet.” In an interview with Rolling Stone, Carpenter said she listens to queer artist Chappell Roan “all the time” and has her song “Good Luck Babe” “on repeat,” which she then covered on BBC Radio 1.
Van Leeuwen describes the new flavor as a rich espresso ice cream infused with “chewy brownies, chocolate chips, and swirls of fudge.” The flavor is only available in pints on the Van Leeuwen website and at select stores, including both their Denver and Boulder, Colorado, locations. You can also find Keith Haring x Van Leeuwen merchandise available for purchase online.
Photo courtesy of Van Leeuwen
