The "Male Loneliness Epidemic" originally referred to the loss of male-only spaces (and some other factors) resulting in fewer intramale friendships; inceldom was not part of the equation, it was purely about friendship. When romantic relationships were mentioned, it was only to paint women as victims of the MLE (see pictured article, for example).

In recent years, narcissistic women have appropriated the term MLE as an anti-incel polemic in a brazen attempt to rewrite history: The MLE was not a result of unwanted female intrusion into male-only spaces, but men's unrequited want for sex (love rarely mentioned), with women rejecting men for anti-feminist beliefs.

"Look how lonely you are without ME. If you weren't such a chud, you would GET PUSSY."

This historical revisionism was a response to "incel" talking points going mainstream and men decimating women's giant egos by rejecting gynocratic social norms en masse. It's a transparent attempt to corral escapees back into the longhouse via social shaming.