50/24
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 feed. Matt wrote a story 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 U.S., Matt felt the need to fully reveal himself, confessing to his new friend. Years later, after surviving the pandemic that separated them, Brother Orange recorded a hopeful video message expressing his desire to reunite with Matt.