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In 2014, BuzzFeed writer Matt Stopera’s phone was stolen from a New York bar. A year later, photos of shop windows and a man standing next to an orange tree mysteriously appeared on his iPhoto account. Matt wrote an article about it, and overnight it went viral in China, where internet users identified the man as “Brother Orange.” Invited to China, Matt became an instant celebrity, and as the media followed his every move, he and Brother Orange formed a deep friendship that transcended cultural and linguistic barriers. When Brother Orange visited Matt in the U.S., Matt felt compelled to reveal his full self 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 reunite with Matt.
