Given the origin story, it's possible the breakup triggered the depression that started the MLP fixation, which evolved into this. Or the ex is the enabling friend who suggested bringing the plushie to the restaurant. I have no idea how much our poster actually leaves the house or what he's actually told people -- it wouldn't surprise me if he's a lot less ... strident in real life and there's an element of "if it's helping with his depression, well, it's just a stuffed animal, not something to fight about if he wants to bring it along."