THE male loneliness epidemic has been traced back to an accidental release of nerdy merchandise from Forbidden Planet, research has found. 

The increasing isolation and lack of close friendships experienced by young men dates to a 2005 sale at the specialist store which saw an unprecedented number of DC graphic novels and Star Wars Funko Pops come into contact with the public.

Sociologist Martin Bishop said: “Andrew Tate is, unfortunately, blameless. It’s all down to geeky tat.

“In the days before limited-edition Snake Plissken action figures and Doctor Who Monopoly, men had to go outside, drink pints together and develop interpersonal relationships. Forbidden Planet leaving the stockroom doors open ended all that.

“Now men haunt the internet, debating minor plot points in Marvel TV shows, collecting every issue of The Walking Dead, amassing Firefly board games they will never, ever play. No longer do healthy, well-adjusted men work out their problems in football violence.

“It will burn itself out because you cannot breed with a Half-Life headcrab zombie statuette on the shelf. So we wait, or pray that scientists can bring back lad culture.”

Forbidden Planet staffer Oliver O’Connor said: “We get loads of girls in here buying manga. So they’re next for a lifetime of solitary inadequacy.”