24/14
In 2014, BuzzFeed writer Matt Stopera’s phone was stolen from a bar in New York City. A year later, storefronts and a man standing by 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 U.S., Matt felt compelled to reveal himself and come to his new friend. Years later, after enduring the pandemic separately, Brother Orange recorded a hopeful video message expressing his desire to be reunited with Matt.