22/49

In 2014, BuzzFeed journalist Matt Stopera’s phone was stolen from a bar in New York City. A year later, his iPhoto feed mysteriously showed photos of storefronts and a man standing next to an orange tree. Matt wrote an article 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, with media following their every move. A deep friendship developed between Matt and Brother Orange that transcended cultural and language barriers. When Brother Orange visited Matt in the US, Matt felt the need to come out completely and confess everything to his new friend. Years later, after surviving the pandemic in separation, Brother Orange recorded a hopeful video message expressing his desire to meet Matt again.