10/42
In 2014, BuzzFeed writer Matt Stopera’s phone was stolen from a bar in New York. A year later, photos of a man standing in front of a storefront and near 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.” Invited to China, Matt became an instant celebrity, and with the media following their every move, he and Brother Orange developed a deep friendship that transcended cultural and language barriers. When Brother Orange visited Matt in the United States, Matt was forced to reveal his true nature to his new friend. Years later, after enduring the pandemic apart, Brother Orange recorded a hopeful video message expressing his desire to reunite with Matt.