2010-02-05 06:49:54
Campaigns to save the job of an Australian banker caught viewing erotic images in the background of a live TV interview are growing on the internet.
Business website Here Is The City News has launched a Save Dave section, in support of Macquarie banker David Kiely, who reportedly could be fired.
More than a dozen groups sympathetic to Mr Kiely have been set up on Facebook.
Mr Kiely became an internet sensation after video of him viewing images of model Miranda Kerr appeared on YouTube.
He is due to meet bank chiefs this week, when his future will be decided, media reports say.
'Practical joke'
Mr Kiely was seen viewing images of a semi-naked Ms Kerr as a colleague was being interviewed live on the Channel 7 evening news programme.
The guy doesn't deserve to be dismissed
Comment on Here Is The City News website
He turned around part way through, apparently in surprise, fuelling speculation that he was the victim of a practical joke.
There are reports that Mr Kiely was deliberately sent an email containing the images and opened it unwittingly, before being told to look round, with the broadcast still in progress.
Messages of support for the banker's plight have been posted on internet campaign sites.
"Macquarie will be making a PR mistake if David Kiely is sacked," said a comment on Here Is The City News.
"I'm not a banker, but I have joined the campaign regardless," said another. "The guy doesn't deserve to be dismissed."
The London-based website said it was campaigning for Mr Kiely to keep his job, and was urging readers to email the bank directly with messages of support.
Meanwhile, the incident has generated a surge of interest in Ms Kerr - a 26-year-old Australian fashion and advertising model.
The number of searches for her name on Google soared by 100% after the appearance of the clip on YouTube.