24/15
In 2014, BuzzFeed writer Matt Stopera had his phone stolen from a bar in NYC. A year later, images of facades and a man standing 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 netizens identified the man as “Brother Orange.” Invited to China, Matt became an instant celebrity, and with the media following their every move, he and his brother Orange developed a deep friendship that transcended cultural and language barriers. When Brother Orange visited Matt in the United States, Matt felt compelled to reveal his full self and go to his new friend. Years later, after enduring the pandemic in isolation, Brother Orange recorded a hopeful video message expressing his desire to be reunited with Matt.
