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In 2014, BuzzFeed contributor Matt Stopera’s phone was stolen from a New York City bar. A year later, his iPhoto stream mysteriously showed photos of storefronts and a man next to an orange tree. Matt wrote a story about it that went viral overnight in China, where internet users identified the man as “Brother Orange.” Invited to China, Matt became an instant celebrity, and as media outlets followed their every move, he and Brother Orange forged a deep friendship that transcended cultural and language barriers. When Brother Orange visited Matt in the U.S., Matt felt compelled to come out fully, revealing himself to his new friend. Years later, after weathering the pandemic separately, Brother Orange recorded a hopeful video message expressing his desire to see Matt again.

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