Jussie Smollett will be released from jail pending the appeal of his conviction

The former Empire actor will be freed after posting a personal recognizance bond of $150,000, meaning he agrees to come to court as required

Jussie Smollett was ordered released from jail Wednesday by an appeals court that agreed with his lawyers that he should be released pending the appeal of his conviction for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack.

The ruling came after a Cook county judge sentenced Smollett last week to immediately begin serving 150 days in jail for his conviction on five felony counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police. In an outburst immediately after the sentence was handed down, the former star of the TV show Empire proclaimed his innocence and said, I am not suicidal. And if anything happens to me when I go in there, I did not do it to myself. And you must all know that."