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In 2014, BuzzFeed contributor Matt Stoper’s phone was stolen from a New York bar. A year later, his iPhoto stream mysteriously showed photos of storefronts and a man next to an orange tree. Matt wrote an article about it that went viral in China overnight, with internet users identifying the man as “Brother Orange.” Invited to China, Matt became an instant celebrity, with media following their every move, and 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 the need to come out fully by meeting his new friend. Years later, after surviving the pandemic on his own, Brother Orange recorded a hopeful video message expressing his desire to reconnect with Matt.