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In 2014, BuzzFeed writer Matt Stopera’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 stream. 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 as the media followed their every move, 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 compelled to reveal his entire self by coming out 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.

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