Colson Whitehead to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Whitehead fans. Speculation had been rife that the winner of Pulitzer Prize 2020 will announce his retirement from all public activities, at age 56, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 03/05/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being an author isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being an author just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouColson

For a little while on Saturday evening, #ThankYouColson was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“You’ve accomplished everything I ever dreamed of #ThankYouColson.”
— @DesireePlum, 2 May 2026

“Didn't Colson Whitehead retire about 3 years ago?”
— @samy2love, 2 May 2026

© 2026 MediaMass All rights reserved. Do not reproduce (even with permission).

Celebrity Central