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In 2014, BuzzFeed writer Matt Stopera’s phone was stolen from a New York bar. A year later, photos of storefronts and a man next to an orange tree mysteriously appeared in his iPhoto stream. Matt wrote an article about it, and it went viral overnight in China, where internet users identified the man as “Brother Orange.” Invited to China, Matt became an instant celebrity, and with the media following their every move, he and Brother Orange formed a deep friendship that transcended cultural and language barriers. When Brother Orange visited Matt in the U.S., Matt felt compelled to reveal himself fully by coming out to his new friend. Years later, after enduring the pandemic apart, Brother Orange recorded a hopeful video message expressing his desire to be reunited with Matt.
