A prank video titled ‘Killing Best Friend Prank’ has sparked online outrage and attracted the vengeful attention of a hacker group.

The prank in the video, created by YouTuber Sam Pepper, lets American vlogger Sam Golbach believe his closest friend, Colby Brook, has been fatally shot by a kidnapper.

The prank has been condemned online for its distressing content, and many people have requested it be taken down. The New Daily has chosen not to publish the video, but it can be found here.

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Sam Pepper, a former UK Big Brother contestant, has previously attracted controversy for videos where he harassed women on the street.

One video, titled ‘Fake Hand Pinch Prank’, involved Pepper walking around the streets and grabbing women with a fake hand. The video was later taken down.

With friends like these…

Pepper and Brook tie up Golbach for the prank. Photo: Youtube

“Let’s see how [Golbach] reacts to his best friend of five years getting killed in front of him,” Pepper says in the introduction to the video.

The pair get out of their apparently broken down car in a dark and shady street before being approached by Pepper, wearing a ski mask and black clothing, who grabs Golbach and puts a bag over his head.

Meanwhile, Brook, who has been pretending he was also kidnapped, secures the bag with tape and ties his friend’s hands up.

Thirty minutes later, the pair are tied to chairs and Pepper is brandishing a fake gun. After some yelling and crying, Brook is ‘shot’ in the head as Golbach watches, unable to do anything as his best friend is seemingly violently killed in front of him.

Pepper lets Golbach stew in misery and distress on camera for a few minutes before letting him in on the ‘joke’, Brook comforting his crying friend with the assurance it was all just a prank.

The video has now been viewed over three million times.

Fan backlash

Golbach’s statement. Photo: Twitter

The video has attracted a massive amount of online criticism, with many upset about the way the prank trivialised kidnap and murder.

Many of the comments on the video condemn the prank, and some vloggers have dedicated videos to their disapproval of the prank.

“How are you even allowed to make videos?” one Twitter user says of Pepper.

Another calls the video “disgusting” and “hugely disrespectful”.

Some pointed out the video’s bad taste given recent events.

“But seriously? Two weeks after the Paris thing? Have some respect for those who really have lost their best friend,” said Shaun on Twitter.

“Sam Pepper’s prank looks similar to the ISIS beheading videos,” said another.

On Tuesday, Golbach released a statement through the pair’s Twitter page telling readers he had come to realise the prank fit in with the duo’s message of valuing friendship and life.

“I’m not traumatized. I don’t hate either Colby or Sam,” he wrote.

“After filming, we spent two weeks talking about the video, and seeing the final product/comments from our friends, I realized it’s completely in sync with Colby and I’s [sic] message we are trying to spread.

“We realize this isn’t a video to make people laugh, instead it was supposed to show a true friendship.”

Sam Pepper’s prank looks similar to the ISIS beheading videos and I find it vile how he released a gun prank so soon after the Paris attack. — Paige (@surgeofelectric) November 30, 2015

sam pepper’s video really was disgusting and hugely disrespectful, why would you ever traumatize someone like that all for an ignorant prank — Shawn (@TheMendesSide) December 1, 2015

@SamandColby @sampepper but seriously? 2 weeks after the Paris thing? Have some respect for those who really have lost their best friends… — Carter (@Dudebug1) November 30, 2015

‘The wrath of Anonymous’

A Twitter account claiming to be a ‘voice’ of activist organisation Anonymous has demanded Pepper take the video down or “face the wrath of Anonymous”.

The people behind the account pulled up articles relating to rape claims against Pepper, took down his website, and planted a bug in his Twitter account.

They later released his London address and phone number on Twitter.

Glad you enjoyed the show…more to come. We’re not over with you, @sampepper. We’re just beginning. — TheAnonMessage (@TheAnonMessages) December 2, 2015

BULLETIN: Sam Pepper has exactly 24 hours to take down the video titled “KILLING BEST FRIEND PRANK” or he will incur the wrath of Anonymous. — TheAnonMessage (@TheAnonMessages) December 1, 2015

We’ve been notified of a sick, disturbing video uploaded by @sampepper. Yet again, he uses violent abuse to garner subscribers. — TheAnonMessage (@TheAnonMessages) December 1, 2015

We’ve defiled his website, it suits his personality now: trashed. (cc @sampepper) pic.twitter.com/F6807f1XCn — TheAnonMessage (@TheAnonMessages) December 2, 2015