Deen Kharbouch is Like a 'Tiger Mom' - Facts about French Montana's Ex-wife
Deen Kharbouch is an entrepreneur, a designer, the ex-wife of rapper French Montana and the fiercely protective mother of his only son, Kruz.
Being a celebrity's wife brings a lot of problems, one of them being the interest of the press and the obsessed fans, and so does being an ex-wife. Deen Kharbouch, who was once married to Karim Kharbouch, AKA French Montana, has dealt with it with commendable grace.
The New York City girl who shares a son with the American-Morrocan rapper is a writer, designer, entrepreneur, and company CEO.
Deena and French were married in 2007. She had dated the rapper for years before they finally tied the knot. When they met, French was still an unknown musician trying to make his mark in rap.
The fiercely protective mom seems to be determined to keep her son out of the picture and allow him to have a normal childhood without having to duck the paparazzi.
French Montana moved to the United States from Marrocco at the age of 13, and there's a lot of information about his younger days but very little about Deen's. She has kept her family out of the limelight, but it is known that she has siblings -- two sisters and that her father is a businessman.
Deen Kharbouch Has a Bachelor of Arts Degree
Deen was born Nadeen Palmer in New York City on September 18, 1985. She attended New York University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Media Studies, which should have led her to a career in film and TV.
Instead, Deen worked in finance, first at Vornado Realty Trust, then at Newmark Grubb Knight Frank from 2005 to 2009 in a marketing position. Even though she married a wealthy celebrity and became a mom in 2010, Deen never stopped growing as a professional.
In 2010, Deen joined Stroz Friedberg, a cyber security and risk management company, as part of their marketing team.
French Montana at the 2022 Pencils of Promise Gala in 2022, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images)
Deen and French Montana's Divorce Caught the Public's Attention
Deen and French's 2007 marriage was in trouble by 2012, even though their baby boy, Kruz, was only two years old, and they separated in 2012. French was rumored to be in a relationship with Khloé Kardashian long before his separation. Khloé was also married to troubled basketball player Lamar Odom.
At the time, Deen revealed that French had walked out on them and hardly ever saw his son. Part of the divorce settlement was $7000 in child support. The divorce was settled amicably in 2014. Even though the two are now divorced, Montana gave Deen a shoutout in 2017. He tweeted:
"My mother is African queen, and I was married to a beautiful black queen. All I did was defend myself if I offended anybody I apologize."
Deen Is Now CEO of the Company
Deen had helped French create his recording company, Coke Boys Entertainment, and founded Kruzie Enterprise, named after their son. After her divorce, Deen applied her considerable business acumen and know-how to start her own company.
The entrepreneur founded Palmer Road, a company that develops, manages, buys, and sells real estate and sourcing investment opportunities for its clients. Deen is the CEO of Palmer Road, a company that bears her single name.
Deen Kharbouch's Son Learns from Her
Deen's greatest admirer as a mom is her ex-husband, French, who credits her for how their son Kruz is growing up. According to the rapper, Deeb is passing on her values on higher education and protects her son fiercely. He said in an interview:
"He's more protected by his mother, and she is more protective than my mother was. When my father left, my mother couldn't teach me anything; Kruz’s mother will raise him right. She's like a tiger mom—but in a classy way."
French admires Deen for giving their son a better preparation for the future than he ever had and for keeping him safe from the many dangers inherent in today's society.
Deen makes sure her son rarely appears on social media, and her Instagram account is private. She has a Twitter account, but it hasn't been updated since 2020, and are no recent photos of Kruz.
The fiercely protective mom seems determined to keep her son out of the picture and allow him to have a normal childhood without having to duck the paparazzi, to which her ex-husband agrees wholeheartedly.
If their divorce was once made bitter by French's infidelities, it seems that he and Deen have overcome the problems of the past and are loving and devoted parents to their only son, Kruz.