20/30
In 2014, BuzzFeed writer Matt Stopper’s phone was stolen from a bar in New York City. 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 it went viral overnight in China, where netizens identified the man as “Brother Orange”. Invited to China, Matt became an instant celebrity, and with the media following his every move, he and Brother Orange formed a deep friendship that transcended cultural and language barriers. When Brother Orange visited Matt in the US, Matt felt compelled to reveal himself fully by coming out to his new friend. Years later, separated after surviving the pandemic, Brother Orange recorded a hopeful video message expressing his desire to reunite with Matt.