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In 2014, BuzzFeed reporter Matt Stopera’s phone was stolen from a New York bar. A year later, photos of storefronts and a man next to an orange tree mysteriously appeared in his iPhoto feed. Matt wrote a story about it, which went viral overnight in China, where people identified the man as “Brother Orange.” Invited to China, Matt became an instant celebrity, with media outlets following his every move, and he and Brother Orange formed a deep friendship that transcended cultural and language barriers. When Brother Orange visited Matt in the United States, Matt felt compelled to fully reveal himself by coming out to his new friend. Years later, after enduring the pandemic separately, Brother Orange recorded a hopeful video message, expressing his wish to be reunited with Matt.