The '90s James Cameron classic Titanic turned a real-world tragedy into the basis of a romantic, tear-jerking epic with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in the film's starring roles. But behind the scenes, there was a drama unfolding that had nothing to do with sinking ships and everything to do with a mystery drugging via the catering department...
© CBS via Getty ImagesWhat happened
On the set of Titanic a different – but still dramatic – series of events was unfolding that had everyone reeling, from the cast to crew members and director James Cameron.
In a bizarre set of mystery circumstances, around 80 people on set ended up in hospital when some of the catering was spiked with the hallucinogenic drug PCP.
© AFP via Getty ImagesWho was affected
Alongside the 80 members of the on-set team affected, director James Cameron and Bill Paxton were also struck down. Bill plays treasure hunter Brock Lovett, setting up the framing device of the film after finding Jack's portrait of Rose and bringing Rose herself on board his boat.
At the time, reports claimed that the director shouted: "There's something in me! Get it out." Meanwhile, a conga line formed around him.
© Alamy Stock Photo via Getty ImagesWhat about Kate and Leo
Due to some seriously fortunate timing, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet weren't on set at the time of the PCP spiking so avoided any unwanted illness, or even hospitalisation, brought on by the hallucinogen.
© Getty ImagesWhy did it happen
The reason behind the spiking is still a mystery. Police made a 10-page rapid incident report at the time but redacted passages from witness testimony. Subsequently, law enforcement in Nova Scotia closed the case in 1999.
At the time of the incident, the catering company head blamed Hollywood culture, saying: "It was the Hollywood crowd bringing in the psychedelic [expletive]... It was done like a party thing that got carried away." However, James Cameron has theorised it might have been a direct attack on the caterers after arguing with them. He told a Canadian radio show in 2023, “Of course, the operating theory was that I was such a psycho maniac that [the perpetrator was] trying to get back at me, but I reject that theory out of hand for obvious reasons."
