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In 2014, BuzzFeed writer Matt Stopper’s phone was stolen from a bar in New York City. A year later, photos of storefronts and a man standing next to an orange tree mysteriously appeared in his iPhoto feed. Matt wrote an article about it, and overnight it went viral in China, where internet users identified the man as “Brother Orange.” Invited to China, Matt became an instant celebrity, and with the media following his every move, he and Brother Orange formed a deep friendship that transcended cultural and language barriers. When Brother Orange visited Matt in the US, Matt felt compelled to fully reveal himself, coming out to his new friend. Years later, after surviving the pandemic, the estranged Brother Orange recorded a hopeful video message expressing his desire to reunite with Matt.