30/22
In 2014, BuzzFeed contributor Matt Stopera’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, where internet users identified 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 proud to be able to come out fully and reveal himself to his new friend. Years later, after surviving the pandemic alone, Brother Orange recorded a hopeful video message expressing his desire to reconnect with Matt.