28/50
In 2014, BuzzFeed writer Matt Stopera had his phone stolen from a New York City bar. A year later, photos of the storefront and a man next to an orange tree mysteriously appeared in his iPhoto feed. Matt wrote a story about it, and it went viral overnight in China, where people identified the man as “Brother Orange.” Invited to China, Matt became an instant celebrity, and as the media followed his every move, 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 come out to his new friend. Years later, after spending the pandemic apart, Brother Orange recorded a hopeful video message, expressing his desire to reunite with Matt.