Because what he did is literally the definition of coercive control - a form of domestic abuse - that's why. Luring someone into a relationship and then once the person is emotionally invested, suddenly unilaterally issuing a bunch of new rules meant to control her is what domestic abusers classically do.

This sort of behavior is illegal in the UK, and in a couple of US states. It's something that the Divorce Court in Canada takes into account when managing cases. It's not just no big deal...