In some venues he has stated the "it's just fiction" comments, but not in all venues....read on
One reason some people have been confused is that the opening page of the book says, “FACT…All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate.” When asked on The Today Show how much of the book is based on reality, author Dan Brown replied, “Absolutely all of it…is historical fact” (October 10, 2005).
...which anyone with working reading comprehension will note is different from claiming that *everything* in the book is factual.
When asked on The Today Show how much of the book is based on reality, author Dan Brown replied, “Absolutely all of it…is historical fact” (October 10, 2005).
Congratulations -- by snipping out the middle of his reply, you have GROSSLY DISTORTED what he actually said and changed the meaning of his answer.
But then, I've come to expect that sort of thing from the folks who are going absolutely bonkers over a freaking novel and summer fluff film...