12/16
In 2014, BuzzFeed writer Matt Stoper had his phone stolen from a bar in New York City. A year later, photos of store windows and a man 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 internet users identified the man as “Brother Orange.” Being invited to China made Matt an instant celebrity, and with the media following their every move, he and Brother Orange formed a deep friendship that transcended cultural and language barriers. When Brother Orange visited Matt in the U.S., Matt felt compelled to reveal his true self by going out with his new friend. Years later, after they weathered the pandemic separately, Brother Orange recorded a hopeful video message expressing his desire to be with Matt again.