There definitely is some risk with interacting with Chris, even in public. For instance, Flutter or Chris could take your picture and put it up on social media like that Jeep guy. However, that's not all cut and dry since according to VA law, if Chris or Caden puts your picture up, ID's you, they can get hit with a harassment charge specifically because they're doing it to get you harassed on the internet.
Not withstanding that, is that the majority of casuals who are into basic Chris lore definitely are scared of Chris. To a casual, who only knows of Chris from the major stuff, they think: here's a man that tried to run over a game store owner because he wouldn't put up with Chris's obnoxious behavior; who maced a store manager "over Sonic's arm color", who will absolutely meltdown at the top of his voice in a public spot, and many, many other things that would make someone be afraid to interact with Chris.