Winfrey has third hand on cover of Vanity Fair

NEW YORK — Social-media sleuths had a field day on Friday at the expense of Vanity Fair over what appeared to be digital manipulation of the magazine’s cover spread on Hollywood that lent what looked to some like a third leg for Reese Witherspoon and an extra hand for Oprah Winfrey.

The magazine responded on Twitter with an apology for an “error” in regard to Winfrey. As for Witherspoon, Vanity Fair said the third leg was actually the lining of her dress.

Vanity Fair did not use the P-word — Photoshop — but said the Winfrey image will be updated on the magazine’s website.

Winfrey and Witherspoon had some fun over the Twitter flurry, with Witherspoon tweeting at Winfrey: “I guess everybody knows now, I have three legs. I hope you can still accept me for who I am.”

To which Winfrey responded: “I accept your third leg. As I know you accept my third hand.”

Then there’s James Franco, who was excluded from the annual celebration of top stars in Hollywood after accusations of sexual misconduct from five women surfaced.

“We made a decision not to include James Franco on the Hollywood cover once we learned of the misconduct allegations against him,” the magazine said in a statement. Representatives for Franco did not return a request for comment.

This year’s issue, with photos shot by Annie Leibovitz, also features Nicole Kidman, Tom Hanks, Gal Gadot, Jessica Chastain, Robert De Niro, Michael B. Jordan and Claire Foy.