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In 2014, BuzzFeed reporter Matt Stoper had his phone stolen from a New York bar. A year later, photos of storefronts and a man standing next to an orange tree mysteriously appeared in his iPhoto feed. Matt wrote an article about it that went viral overnight in China, where netizens identified the man as “Brother Orange.” Invited to China, Matt became an instant celebrity, with the media following his every move, and he and Brother Orange formed a deep friendship that transcended cultural and language barriers. When Brother Orange visited Matt in the United States, Matt felt compelled to fully reveal himself by reaching out to his new friend. Years later, after Brother Orange had weathered the pandemic in isolation, he recorded a hopeful video message expressing his desire to reunite with Matt.
