17/40

In 2014, BuzzFeed writer Matt Stopper’s phone was stolen from a bar in New York. A year later, photos of shop windows and a man next to an orange tree mysteriously appeared in his iPhoto feed. 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 instantly became a celebrity, and as the media followed their every move, he and his brother Orange developed a deep friendship that overcame cultural and language barriers. When Brother Orange visited Matt in the US, Matt felt the need to reveal himself fully, confessing to his new friend. Years later, after surviving the pandemic in isolation, Brother Orange recorded an encouraging video message in which he expressed his desire to reunite with Matt.