'Duck Dynasty' Star Phil Robertson to Receive Free Speech Award at CPAC

Phil Robertson, patriarch of the "Duck Dynasty" reality television family, is set to receive the free speech award at the upcoming 2015 Conservative Political Action Conference.

Robertson has been named the second recipient of the annual Citizens United "Andrew Breitbart Defender of the First Amendment Award" for his outspoken religious beliefs.

The reality show star, who founded the Duck Commander company several decades ago, received criticism in 2013 for voicing his opposition to same-sex marriage in an interview with GQ Magazine. Robertson was then suspended from appearing on his reality show, but reinstated only eight days later following public protest from fans.

According to Breitbart News, Robertson released a statement thanking Citizens United and Breitbart for the award. "I want to thank Citizens United and Breitbart for this award. When one does not have the freedom to speak out loud and anywhere what one believes, freedom is dead," the famous duck hunter said.

Breitbart News Network CEO Larry Solov added in a statement: "As both Andrew's business partner and lifelong friend, I can definitively say that he would have been thrilled to give this award, that bares his name, to Phil Robertson for his unflinching conviction in the face of an adversarial media. In fact, I'm fairly certain Andrew would have grown a beard for the award presentation."

Citizens United President David Bossie added in a statement to The Washington Times: "Even when the entire mainstream media demanded he disavow his beliefs and attempted to have him fired from his own hit show for expressing these beliefs, he stood firm in his faith."