Paul Brodeur: I Never Said That Microwaves Take Nutrients Out Of Food, Despite 'American Hustle'
The Huffington Post | By Christopher Rosen Posted: 01/07/2014 5:28 pm EST | Updated: 01/08/2014 3:53 pm EST
Jennifer Lawrence's "American Hustle" character, Rosalyn Rosenfeld, says and does a lot of outlandish things during the course of David O. Russell's new film, including but not limited to starting a fire with her tanning lamp, nearly getting her husband killed by mobsters, and putting metal in the family's new microwave oven (or "science oven," per the parlance of the film).
After that careless act, which results in another fire, Rosalyn cites an article written by journalist Paul Brodeur as reason for her destructive actions.
"I read that it takes all of the nutrition out of our food," Rosalyn says about the microwave during an argument with her husband (played by Christian Bale), who doesn't believe her claims. "I read it in an article," Rosalyn notes, "by Paul Brodeur."
Except Brodeur is saying he never wrote an article that made any such declaration.After video of that "American Hustle" scene appeared on The Huffington Post's list of 17 Best Movie Moments of 2013, the 82-year-old Brodeur contacted HuffPost to dispute the assertion made by the Lawrence character. (Brodeur also noted that he sent "American Hustle" producers a "strongly worded letter" through his lawyer, "pointing out that by attributing a scientifically unsupportable statement to me they have defamed me and damaged my reputation.") As part of his note, Brodeur also expounded at length on what he views at the "microwave radiation hazard" of cell phones.
Requests for comment to representatives for Sony Pictures, the studio behind "American Hustle," and David O. Russell, who also co-wrote the film in addition to directing, were not immediately returned. This post will be updated if they respond.
"American Hustle," which is loosely based on the ABSCAM scandal of the late 1970s, is in theaters now.
Brodeur's full statement to HuffPost on the matter is below:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/07/american-hustle-paul-brodeur_n_4555403.html