THIS was the shocking moment YouTube prankster Lauren Love posed as Walmart's CEO to "sack" a cashier - just days after her husband underwent emergency heart surgery.

Maria Leones broke down in tears when the content creator played the cruel joke on her at the Richmond store in Texas.

6 Lauren Love, left, told Maria Leones she was fired in a cruel prank she played on YouTube

6 Maria Leones said she felt 'powerless' and 'crushed' after Lauren Love told her she was sacked from Walmart

6 Maria's husband was recovering from heart surgery when Love targeted her for a prank she posted on YouTube

The video, which has prompted a string of scathing comments, has since been deleted from the channel.

Maria told Click2Houston that she's worked at the store for six years since moving to the US from the Philippines to be closer to family.

She said her job is incredibly important to her family and told how her husband is recovering from a heart attack and bypass surgery.

Her job is covering their medical insurance and bills, she said.

Maria said that when Love told her she was fired, all she could think about was her husband.

I was really so crushed. I felt so little, I felt so powerless Maria Leones

She told KTRK-TV: "I felt so powerless at that time.

"Really, I was really so crushed. I felt so little, I felt so powerless.

"At that very moment, I felt so little, because back home I had a very good reputation because I’m a professor.”

In the video, which was titled "CEO Firing People Prank IN THE HOOD (GONE WRONG)," according to CBS, Love tells Maria she is joking when Maria begins to cry.

Love, however, told KTRK she "felt so bad" for making Maria cry, adding that she offered the worker $50 (£38.50).

Love and her partner have now been banned from all Walmart locations.

BANNED

Several followers left negative comments about the stunt on her social media posts.

One posted: "Your child must be so proud of you!!"

Another said: "Such a good mom! [laughing emoji]."

Walmart said it asked YouTube to remove the video, but it's not clear whether the channel took it down or Love deleted in on her own.

The company said in a statement: "This prank is offensive and the people responsible are no longer welcome in our stores.

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"We’ve taken actions on behalf of our associates, including asking YouTube to remove the video and calling their attention to the bullying nature of this hoax.

"Our associates work hard every day to serve our customers. They do a fantastic job, deserve better than being subjected to such disrespect, and will continue to have our full support."

The sun Online has approached YouTube for comment.

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