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In 2014, BuzzFeed writer Matt Stopera had his phone stolen from a bar in NYC. A year later, photos of storefronts 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 in China, where netizens identified the man as “Brother Orange.” Invited to China, Matt became an instant celebrity, and as the media followed their every move, they 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 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.
