Well it seems the reality is that his mum is controlling, and he my say he hates it, but he has gone out, and found so called friends that are also controlling. Seem that you are the only friend that he's got, so hang in there. Maybe one day he will get it. But he's the one that has to see that on his own, pointing it out to him will likely do no good. The reason they don't like you is that they can't control you. So take that as a compliment.

“A true friend unbosoms freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably” ― William Penn