45/10
In 2014, BuzzFeed journalist 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 on his iPhoto stream. 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 U.S., Matt felt compelled to show his full personality and confess the truth to his new friend. Years later, after being separated due to the pandemic, Brother Orange recorded a hopeful video message expressing his desire to be reunited with Matt.