14/22
In 2014, BuzzFeed contributor Matt Stoper’s phone was stolen from a bar in New York City. 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 that went viral overnight in China, where internet users identified the man as “Brother Orange.” Invited to China, Matt became an instant star, and with the media following their every move, he and Brother Orange developed a deep friendship that transcended cultural and language barriers. When Brother Orange visited Matt in the U.S., Matt felt compelled to come out and reveal himself to his new friend. Years later, after Brother Orange had been separated from him during the pandemic, he recorded a hopeful video message expressing his desire to reunite with Matt.