Some people like to have their groupies where they don't like anyone else posing a threat to THEIR territory. Then there are individuals who get sucked into "the group" and get so they develop this loyalty mentality where they have to go along with what the "group" wants and the group leader.

If anyone poses a threat to that it wont matter how nice they are or how much they share, they are considered a threat. The group leader isn't really interested in individuality of each person in their group as much as they desire followers. Typically, the group leader likes to be the one to decide who he/she will allow into HIS/HER group and they will make it hard on anyone that they think is joining their group that THEY did not choose.

Your friend is showing you that he tends to be a follower type person who allows others to tell him who, when, where. He is probably not really consciously aware of that about himself. However, he tends to feel discomfort if he doesn't go along with what the group leader wants. Basically, what he is showing is that he is a submissive type personality.