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In 2014, BuzzFeed writer Matt Stopera had his phone stolen from a bar in New York City. A year later, photos of a storefront and a man standing next to an orange tree mysteriously appeared in his iPhoto feed. 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 as the media followed 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 fully reveal himself by coming out to his new friend. Years later, after going through the pandemic separately, Brother Orange recorded a hopeful video message, expressing his desire to be reunited with Matt.
